Auxiliary air force uniform 1941. Wool & petersham cotton. | Manchester Art Gallery
Helen Bennett, Spider Dress. 1939. Photo by Horst P. Horst (German-American, 1906-1999).
Ensemble 1900. Monsieur LaFerrière, Paris. Ribbed silk, wool crepe, fox fur. | CHM
Evening dress Callot Soeurs. Ca. 1925. French. Silk, metallic thread & glass. | THE MET
Wedding necklace Ca. 1900. Thai (Lu Mien Yao peoples). Silver. | THE MET
Headdress circa 1920. Thailand (possibly Cambodia). Glass, Gilt Lacquer & Silver Dancer’s Headdress for Sita.
Dance dramas such as Thai versions of the Rama epic featuring Hanuman, king or the monkeys, Rama, and Sita, were very popular in the Kingdom of Siam in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Headdresses such as this particularly fine example were made for the dancer who played the key role of Sita. As heroine of the epic, she, like Rama, were attired regally with ornate costumes and spectacular crown-like headdresses. Lower ranking females such as princesses wore diadems rather than full crowns with tiered spires.
This headdress comprises gilded lacquer, black lacquer, wood, rawhide, faceted glass spangles, and silver. The glass spangles are mounted in a jour silver settings, in complex bands of silver wire, and with many mounted in flower-like settings en tremble on wire stems so that the spangles shimmied and moved in a frenetic and over-exaggerated fashion with any minor movement made by the dancer. The silver settings are particularly fine.
The crown incorporates a diadem with gilded rawhide flanges or wings that frame the dancer’s face on either side and which are embellished with fine wire netting inset with dozens of silver-mounted glass spangles.
Before the dancers performed, it was traditional for them to place their headdresses, diadems, masks and musical instruments on an altar along with offerings to respected teachers and spirits. After the ceremony, the headdresses were put on and a small, single fresh flower was tucked behind the ear (McGill, 2009, p. 108). | Michael Backman
Evening Dress House of Worth. Circa 1910. | Live Auctioneers
Evening ensemble 1910. French. Silk & metal. Elegant at-home wear was an essential part of an upper class wardrobe at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The tea gown, a structured and boned one-piece dress, was the first manifestation of a trend toward more comfortable attire for wearing in the presence of one's intimates. This ensemble, while elaborate, is significantly less restricting than a tea gown, yet, by the teens, was considered modest enough to be seen in. | THE MET
Edwardian Hairstyles A collection of Edwardian photographs, depicting some of the hairstyles of the time, like the Low Pompadour. Hatpin Hairstyle. Side-Swirls. Flapper (The title ‘Flapper’ originally referred to teenage girls who wore their hair in single plait which often terminated in a wide ribbon bow.) & the pompadour.
Evening suit Brooks Brothers (American, founded 1818). 1933. American. Wool, silk, cotton & leather. This iconic evening suit was created by Brooks Brothers, which was a very prestigious men's tailor in the 1930s. This ensemble is complete down to the accessories and conveys the overall elegance of the formal look. Dress suits like this were known as white tie and were appropriate dress for the most formal evening events. Brooks Brothers was founded by Henry Sands Brooks in 1818 in New York City as a ready-made and custom men's clothier. | THE MET
Ensemble 1900–1940, Croatian. Cotton & silk. The workmanship in this Croatian ensemble is quite intricate. The pleats on the blouse and skirt are an effective juxtaposition to the detailed overall embroidery. The liveliness of the ensemble is notable for its unique, but complementary, needlework; unlike some traditional costumes, the apron compliments and actually completes the skirt. | THE MET
Dress 1930's. Pink silk chiffon gown. Silk ruffles & a garden of climbing tulle & taffeta flowers with sequins and crystals. | The Frock
Dress Ostrich Feather & beaded satin gown. Circa 1935. | The Frock
Evening Dress Gilbert Adrian. 1941. Black glass beaded gown. | The Frock
Dress 1940's Dress. Silk / Wool. | The Frock
Charles James "Tree" Dress This version of the Tree was executed in 1957. It is an example of James’ ability to shape his fabrics over an artificial framework, rather than a human body, and yet still create wearable and even comfortable garments. | Chicago History Museum
Evening dress House of Paquin. Mme. Jeanne Paquin. 1905–7. French. Silk, silver, rhinestones. | THE MET