Victoria and Elsie Papasian

Photograph of the sisters Victoria and Elsie Papasian. Victoria (on the left) would later on move from Egypt to Cyprus to marry Hrant Utidjian. She is wearing a long dress with elbow length sleeves, which are decorated at the edges with intricate embroidery of successive triangular patterns. The dress is made of a dark, probably black cloth, with the exception of the high neckline, which is made of a different, white material and has a frilled top. Elsie is wearing a similar dress to Victoria’s, however the neckline is rounded off and decorated with embroidery, which is the same with that on Victoria’s sleeves. In Elsie’s dress the decoration of the neckline continues on the left side of the chest, where it is enriched with a voluminous white applique. The same embroidered patterns can also be seen around the edges of her sleeves. Elsie is also wearing an impressive necklace around her exposed neck, and a small brooch on the chest. Victoria has long hair falling on her shoulder, while Elsie’s hair is caught up. Despite similarities, the whole appearance and the hairstyle underline the different age of the two sisters.