Purple brocade "Gibson Girl" dress. ca. 1890s.
Throughout the 1890s, women's clothes had broad shoulders, slim waists, and cone-or trumpet-shaped skirts. The S-shape of this silhouette, leg-of-mutton sleeves and decorative front panel represent the ideal image of the "New Woman." |
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Green silk dress with embroidery and lace. ca. 1915.
The silhouette of the nineteen teens was much different from the ideal look of the nineteenth century. Shortened skirts, narrow hems and wide waistlines created a barrel-shaped silhouette
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Black wool and silk embroidered coat. ca. 1915.
Coats and suits came in many lengths and styles in this time. The coat is a boxy silhouette with lowered waist, large collar and large black buttons decorated with gold. |
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Pink beaded dress. Late 1920s.
Bareness typified dresses of the 1920s. The translucent layers of fabric, tubular silhouette, and handkerchief-point hemline place this dress in the later 1920s. Notice the exquisite beading and sequins that were a popular means of ornamenting evening dresses.
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Red crushed velvet dress with geometric pattern. Late 1920s.
One-piece dresses remained the staple of women's wardrobes for daytime wear. The lowered hemline, flounced skirt, geometric Cubist-inspired design, and long sleeves place this dress in the late 1920s. |
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Halter-style green, red, and blue rayon dress. ca. 1930s.
Tubular, draped, and body-molding silhouettes were popular styles for evening wear of the 1930s. The halter-style with low-cut back emphasized the broader shoulders and slim hips popular in the 1930s.The bias cut of the skirt allows for excellent draping.
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Red and black silk dress designed by Claire McCardell. 1947.
Claire McCardell (1905-1958) was a prominent American sportswear designer of the 1930s to 1950s. She asserted "clothes should be useful" and specialized in clothes for American women. This dress has small shoulders, cinched waist, and batwing sleeves. |
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Black evening dress with coral beading. 1943.
Belted black evening gown with elaborate coral beadwork on collar and waist. This gown was worn by Genevieve Fisher (1879-1974) who served as Dean of the Department of Home Economics at Iowa State University from 1927-1944.
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Two-piece tweed suit. ca.1950.
Double breasted green two-piece wool suit with black plastic closures and fabric-bound buttonholes. Suit set contains a knee length skirt and matching jacket. This precisely tailored, crisp box-like silhouette was common in the 1950's. |
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Brown and pink evening gown with sequins designed by Hattie Carnegie. ca.1950.
Hattie Carnegie (1889-1956) was an American designer and wholesale business owner. She designed custom-made and ready-to wear designs and was influential to many American designers. Brown net and pink taffeta embroidered with gold sequins.
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Pink cocktail dress. ca. 1960s.
Sleeveless pink shantung dress with lining, designed by Shannon Rogers for Jerry Silverman, Inc. Rogers (1911-1996) designed for film including works by Cecil B. DeMille. The color pink and A-line styles were popular in the 1960s.
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Brown suede vest and skirt. ca. 1970s.
Many different styles were popular during the 1970s. This suede vest and skirt with quilting-like details exemplifies the casual, layered, and ethnic looks popular in the 1970s.
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Black, brown, and beige coat designed by Adele Simpson. ca. 1970s.
Adele Simpson (1908-1995) designed and manufactured practical clothes with fabrics inspired by the textiles she saw and collected on her frequent world travels. The A-line coat and ethnic print were popular design elements in the 1970s. |
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Black cocktail dress designed by Scaasi. ca. 1980s.
Arnold Scaasi (1931-) is a Canadian designer noted for his tailored suits and glamorous eveningwear often trimmed with sequins and embroidery. This cocktail dress exemplifies the 1980s with a large bow, burn-out printed design, dropped waist and flounced skirt.
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Red denim jacket with embroidered jeans by Gucci. Ca. 1990s.
Gucci has been synonymous with bags, shoes, and belts since the 1920s. The company was purchased by an investment firm in the early 1990s with designer Tom Ford hired as creative director. The detailed embroidery on the jeans exemplifies the luxury brand. |
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