TRAVELING SUIT

Creator(s): B. Altman and Company (Retailer)

Currently in storage

About this object

Marjorie Merriweather Post wore this dark red three-piece traveling suit to Hot Springs, Virginia, for her honeymoon in 1905.

Mrs. Post wore this dark red three piece traveling suit on her honeymoon to Hot Springs, VA in 1905. The blouse is composed of three different styles of ivory colored decorative lace supported by an inner, lightweight boned foundation. It has a 2-1/2" boned collar and is trimmed with wine colored satin ribbon at sleeve, center front and waist yoke. Freeformed ribbon overlaid with soutache is also used to trim the blouse. The gored wool skirt, simple in line, is distinguished only by double crescent shaped designs with velvet covered buttons at hem. The skirt has been relined with acetate. The same crescent shaped details are used on the midlength jacket at hem, waist and pockets. The jacket is heavily trimmed with lace, flat pleated ribbon, flat braid cording, velvet cording and decorative gold thread embroidery. The jacket alone contains 60 velvet covered buttons. There is evidence that the garment was shortened at time of purchase. The stand collar has been removed, and poly organza was used to stabilize the garment for display. The collar no longer exists, nor are there any historical photographs showing the garment in its original state.

Object name:

TRAVELING SUIT

Made from:

Wool -- velvet -- lace

Date made:

1905

Size:

Blouse: 15 × 14 × 23 1/2 in. (38.1 × 35.6 × 59.7 cm) Skirt: 41 1/2 × 40 × 145 in. (105.4 × 101.6 × 368.3 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

48.11.1-3

Signature marks:

LABEL: B. Altman Co. / Paris New York [on waist tape]

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973