Dress by White Howard & Co.

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...

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