Coat
ca. 1905
Medium
wool, silk
Classification
Coat
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arthur Clement, 1947
Accession Number
2009.300.122
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegance of early 20th-century American fashion with this striking wool and silk coat, crafted around 1905 by Frederick Loeser Company, a prominent Brooklyn-based retailer. Produced during the Edwardian era, when tailored outerwear became a staple for women navigating the shift from restrictive corsets to more practical silhouettes, this piece exemplifies the rise of ready-to-wear. Department stores like Loeser's a pivotal role in making high-quality garments accessible beyond custom couture, blending functionality with subtle luxury. The combination of durable wool for structur...
About the Artist
Frederick Loeser & Company · 1860–present
Frederick Loeser & Company, founded in 1860 in Brooklyn, New York, emerged as a pivotal force in American retail, particularly renowned for its high-quality fashion and accessories that bridged commercial enterprise with artistic craftsmanship. German immigrant Frederick Loeser (1833–1911) established the business initially as Loeser and Dinkelspiel, specializing in embroidery and trimmings at 277...