1920s Beige Embroidered Dress

Beige gauze dress with bronze colored smocking at shoulder seams. Sleeveless with V-neckline; neck and sleeve edges are finished with narrow self binding and and embroidered in bronze color cross stitch. Center front of dress embroidered with satin stitch, french knots and drawn work. 4" wide band of smocking attached to bias strips on wrong side of dropped waistline. Top strip of bias threaded with narrow elastic which has been left exposed and tied in a knot. Lower edge of skirt embroidered in a wide panel of embroidery and drawn work. Lower edge finished with narrow self bias binding. French seams.

HCT.1986.185.25

1929-1930

Dress belonged to Doris Gracey. Doris was born January 9, 1899 in Marietta, Ohio to Emma Fordham and Andrew Gracey. Doris graduated with an A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1921. She later attended Bryn Mawr as a graduate student in 1929-1930. She wore this dress as a student at Bryn Mawr. Doris informed the collection that this dress was hand embroidered in France.
Gift of Miss Doris Gracey

Cotton

1920-1929