1941 Acetate Wedding Dress
Cream acetate crepe below knee dress. Garment originally blue (see zipper, shoulder pad covers and seam binding on hem) showing fume fading of rayon. Cream color unified throughout. Collarless V-neck; arc shaped seams on front bodice almost following curve of front shoulder pad to which lower bodice is gathered. Darts thrown into and eased into arc seam. Plain back bodice with darts going into neckline and back waist seams. Thick shoulder pads and short sleeves. Semi-fitted waistline and left side zipper opening. Shaped panel from waistline seam to high hip with cream/golden cast sequins covering panel. Panel lined with lightweight crepe. Short tie knot of self-fabric acetate crepe at center front of sequin panel. Soft, full skirt, utilizing bias at sides with additional gathers at center front.
HCT.2000.1.6
12/7/1941
1941 Ivory Satin Wedding Dress
Long sleeve ivory satin dress with high waist and train, and sweetheart neckline trimmed with pearls; 24 covered buttons and loops decorate the back of the dress. 1941
HCT.1988.327.1
1941
1943 White Satin and Lace Wedding Dress
Wedding gown. Round neckline with sheer tulle or mesh fabric in upper bodice. Lace unit, 1.5" wide, around neckline in a peter pan collar effect but stitched to mesh base. Similar lace design outlines lower edge of mesh where it connects to lace bodice. Lace over satin drop waist bodice from bust to skirt seam with bodice seam lower in back and gradually higher at center front. Narrow piped seam outlining under bust and forming inverted V at center front. Lace area over bust is gathered at side seams and center front.
Center back closure with 36 satin covered flattened ball buttons and satin loop closures.
Set- in full cap gathered lace sleeves, wrist length. Seam from arm muscle to wrist in which back of sleeve is fuller and gathered to sleeve front.
Skirt gathered to bodice with narrow satin piped seam. Skirt front, floor length at center front with approximate 8' train extending at center back on gown. Satin skirt with lace over satin around hip and thigh area. Lace medallions with stain cut away throughout lower areas of skirt and train. Fold up satin hem on garment and two and one-half inch mesh facing on train area (not horsehair, just flexible mesh fabric facing).
Veil. Dated 1987 by donor. Round, shaped head piece with open section in middle. Lace adorned with small pearls over buckrum. Five foot long veiling from headpiece.
HCT.2014.3.1
1943
1945 Rayon Bridesmaid Dress
Sheer gray/blue (moonstone) acetate bridesmaid dress with yellow taffeta slip; ruffles at wrist and yoke. Dress has faded from blue to its current shade.
HCT.2002.30.3ab
1945
1945 Rayon Wedding Dress
Sheer white rayon gazar gown over taffeta with sweetheart neckline, long sleeves, a dropped waist and train. The neckline and sleeves are finished with lace and a lace-edged ruffle. Similar layered ruffles accent the dress’s long train. The bride was accompanied by a rainbow of bridesmaids. 1945
1945
1946 Nylon Wedding Dress
White nylon gown that was once parachute with a wide ballet neckline and yoke, short sleeves of lace. A lace yoke also topped the gathered skirt.
HCT.2000.20.1
1946
1946 Silk Parachute Wedding Dress
Off-white silk parachute wedding dress. Shaped front neckline with upper section curved ending in shallow V at center front. Front bodice with darts from above bust extending to shoulder. Center front seam with five-inch section of full gathers at bust level. Back bodice with shoulder and waistline darts. Thirteen 3/8" diameter self-fabric ball buttons/buttonholes at center back. Left side zipper. Waistline seam. Long set-in sleeves with full gathered cap and more fitted below elbow. Pointed lower edge with two self-fabric ball buttons/buttonholes fasteners at wrist.
Eleven gore floor-length skirt, smoothly falling from waistline seam -- no gathers or pleats. Six-seven foot train. Several pieced, flat-felled seams evident in lower skirt and train for effective use of parachute fabric to make garment. Machine stitched hem. Garment totally unlined.
HCT.1997.33.1
2/16/1946
1948 Black Silk Christian Dior Dress
Black silk textured weave dress; with long sleeves ending in turnback cuffs; button front closure; pockets; black leather shaped belt with patent leather buckle; built-in black net crinoline; below knee length.
HCT.1996.1.1ab
1948
1948-55 Christian Dior New Look Suit
Brown tweed suit. Jacket- fitted shaped to the hem; 4 button closure; long sleeves; curved pockets; lined in brown silk. Skirt- 3 pieced gored in front; full flare in back; four sections; pleated to hip level with 6 deep 2 1/2 pleats flaring out front a point; lined in brown silk; left side seam zipper and hook/eyes.
HCT.1990.551.11ab
1947-1950
Adrian, Gilbert; brown & white gingham wool suit
Adrian "original" brown & white gingham wool suit; long hip length jacket (a); long set-in sleeves; notched pointed collar; horizontal slash pocket, self bound on lower right side just below the natural waistline; jacket consists of 4 different sizes of gingham, smallest squares form the yoke and collar back and front, the section below that is a little larger, and the lower jacket has even larger checks; the right side of the jacket and right sleeve has a method of slashing almost forming a pocket effect at each horizontal panel; slashing begins from a point at center front where it gradually increases in size to the side seam, this is continued on the back; each under panel is the largest size check; jacket is lined in russet silk crepe; b) skirt- straight, one gingham size, knife pleat at lower left side.
HCT.1986.191.10ab