Redingote 1894

This Redingote was designed by the House of Worth, a Parisian fashion house, during its heyday. It is made of lush black velvet, with complex layers of ruffles at the neck and wrists. The velvet’s deep pile gives the fabric a striking visual texture, almost like a dense forest. This effect is enhanced by the garment’s subtle floral pattern, also woven in velvet. A garment like this was not just designed but engineered, relying on the skilled labor of numerous ateliers. Cutting, draping, and sewing such a complex design required the expertise of seasoned professionals, experts in manipulating material, and constructing a wearable form. The House of Worth was among the first to brand itself, using techniques that would be familiar today, from celebrity endorsements to proto-fashion shows. In doing so, they elevated dressmaking to the level of high art, and secured their legacy. This Redingote demonstrates how fashion can be an important lens, through which to understand class, labor, and the industrialization of taste.