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1890s Elegance
by Linda
Ames
A magnificent example of late 19th century fashion.
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In the ever changing world of fashion, styles
that appear on the scene as new and different
usually can be found in a previous period. The
ballooning sleeves and wide skirts of the
mid-1890s (which make the waist appear smaller
by contrast) were last seen in the romantic
period styles of the 1830s. While the late
nineteenth century version of the shape lacks
the delicate innocence of the earlier version,
the 1890s shape became a testament to the status
and wealth of the wearer. |
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With their new found wealth,
American women in the late 1800s became major customers in
the high fashion market. Many made the Grand Tour of Europe,
buying their wardrobes in Paris. Others supplemented their
wardrobes with imported designs from upscale American shops
that catered to the carriage trade. This elegant tea gown,
available through
Vintage Textile, came
from the New York store, Fox.
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[PHOTO COURTESY OF VINTAGE TEXTILE] |
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The international
character of the era's fashion was well established as
is shown with the Fox label; it reads "Paris/New York." |
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[PHOTO COURTESY OF VINTAGE TEXTILE] |
This aristocratic two-piece gown
(c1895) is fashioned from luxurious silk faille that
combines ribbon-weave satin stripes with watered silk
flowers. This expensive textile is embellished with pink
velvet trim and flounces of beige lace and ivory silk
chiffon. Both pieces are lined with ivory taffeta.
[Back view] |
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[PHOTO COURTESY OF VINTAGE TEXTILE] |
The boned bodice closes in front with hooks. It still has
little sachet packets on the inside front (see last two
photos). The skirt hem is stiffened to hold the shape. The
skirt closes in back with hooks and also hooks to the
bodice. |
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The design and construction create an effect of magisterial
beauty: the narrow waist; the ballooning sleeves with their
double-layered flounces that build up the shoulders; the
pseudo-structural pink velvet trim on the bodice. All these
contribute to the formality and significance of this
magnificent gown. |
[PHOTO COURTESY OF VINTAGE TEXTILE] |
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 This exceptional gown, a special find
for the serious collector, sells for $3400 from
Vintage Textile. The gorgeous
fabric and dramatic shape will make this gown the focal
point of any collection. |
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VINTAGE TEXTILE
features exquisite vintage and antique clothing dating from
1750 to 1980. Since 1998 exclusively on the internet,
Vintage Textile has offered
a wide selection of the best high-style clothing in all the
major categories: Early, Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s,
1930s-1950s, 20th century Designer, Shawls/Textiles. They
are proud to count major collectors and museums worldwide
among their valued customers.
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