AFTERNOON OR EVENING DRESS

Creator(s): Mrs. Miles (Designer)

Currently in storage

About this object

The Edwardian S-bend silhouette is created, in this one piece reception dress, by the slightly bloused bodice, fitted waist and bell shaped skirt. The bodice is constructed on a silk taffeta base with light, flexible boning. All seams are turned and stitched by hand. Open lace at the neck is embellished with a flat metal leaf motif. Horizontal bands of silk ribbon and pink cotton thread tatting form the waist yoke. Insets of heavy, dagged cotton lace further embellish the waist area. Three-quarter length, asymmetrical sleeves are constructed using combinations of tulle, pleated silk organza, cotton embroidery, ribbon and lace. The dress is finished with three flat bands of tulle at hem. The style of this dress, as well as the unusual tulle fabric with a small woven circle pattern, is quite similar that of 48.8 (dress worn on sixteenth birthday). It is likely that this gown was made first in New York and the other modeled after it by Washington, D.C. dressmakers.

Object name:

AFTERNOON OR EVENING DRESS

Made from:

Tulle -- silk taffeta -- silk organza

Made in:

New York, USA

Date made:

1903

Size:

H. 14 1/2 in. (shoulder to waist front); H. 14 1/2 in. (shoulder to waist back); Dia. 24 1/2 in. (waist circumference); H. 40 in. (waist to hem front); H. 43 in. (waist to hem back); Dia. 220 in. (hem circumference)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

48.13

Signature marks:

LABEL: Mrs Miles / 53 West 39th St, N.Y. [on waist tape] TAG: Dress I was wearing when I met Ed at Pound Beach in 1903 [attached to eye on bodice, handwritten in pencil by MMP]

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973