Style and Fashion
Caroline and Mary Harrison's Inaugural Gowns
Although the dress was kept in such a low light level, the exposure to natural and bright artificial lights over many years caused irreversible deterioration of the fabric and fading of the colors. The portion of the skirt made with weighted silk became so weakened over time that it breaks nearly any time it is touched. more »
I'll Never Understand
Remember when decolletage was confined to evening wear? Last week, even my middle-aged, plump, local librarian (yes, a librarian!) wore a blouse cut so low it made the wanton wenches on the provocative covers of the romance novels she was cataloging look positively puritanical by comparison. more »
I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot
The Chicago History Museum’s expansive costume collection of nearly one thousand wedding gowns, suits, and accessories dating back to the 1720s allowed for the exhibition to unveil a unique view on wedding traditions. more »
John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Praise of Women
It demonstrated Sargent’s keen interest in exotic women little known or understood by an American audience, and his visual assertion of the importance of mystery in the definition of femininity. more »