Dress
Medium
silk
Classification
Dress
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. James G. Flockhart, 1968
Accession Number
C.I.68.53.8a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of late 19th-century American fashion with exquisite silk dress from 1887, crafted by the esteemed New York-based firm White Howard & Co. As a prime example of Gilded Age couture, it exemplifies the luxurious materials and skilled craftsmanship favored by the era's elite. Silk, its shimmering luster and fluid drape, was a hallmark of high-end garments, symbolizing and refinement during a time when America's industrial boom fueled a growing appetite for European-inspired elegance. In the 1880s, women's fashion emphasized structured silhouettes, often featuring bustl...