the objects
Gown, with day and evening bodices
Charles Frederick Worth (French, 1825-1895)
1997.111
Likely made in the early 1870s, this gown is a pitch-perfect example of Victorian fashion. The tightly coreseted waist and prominent bustle create a much-desired silhouette, one that shows off a more “natural” form in comparison to the large hooped skirts of the 1860s. In dress, as in most other things, the Victorians preferred a high level of specificity; the two bodices that accompany the skirt signify the expectation of different attire for day and night.
Charles Frederick Worth (French, 1825-1895)
1997.111
Likely made in the early 1870s, this gown is a pitch-perfect example of Victorian fashion. The tightly coreseted waist and prominent bustle create a much-desired silhouette, one that shows off a more “natural” form in comparison to the large hooped skirts of the 1860s. In dress, as in most other things, the Victorians preferred a high level of specificity; the two bodices that accompany the skirt signify the expectation of different attire for day and night.