Blouse

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant simplicity of this cotton blouse from 1861–63, a delicate garment from either American or European origins, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute. Created by an unknown artist during the years of the American Civil War, captures a moment when fashion balanced practicality with emerging styles. Blouses like this were everyday essentials for women, often worn under bodices or as casual outerwear, reflecting the era's shift toward looser, more comfortable silhouettes inspired by global influences. Crafted entirely from cotton—a fabric revolutionized...