Coat 1863 - 1907

Curator: This delicately crafted garment, titled "Coat," dates from between 1863 and 1907. It's attributed to Dieulafait and E. Bouclier, and here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of high fashion during the late 19th century. Editor: It's dazzling! That pristine ivory hue, those rows of shimmering fringe… It looks almost ethereal, like something from a dream. It seems intentionally theatrical in its design. Curator: Indeed. The romanticism is strong, isn’t it? The piece is a remarkable example of mixed media, incorporating textiles and various fibre-art techniques to achieve that delicate and elaborate design. Can you imagine the craftsmanship involved? The dedication required for all that beading? Editor: Absolutely. But I wonder about the wearer. What socio-economic circles did they move in? And, how did such intricate clothing affect the wearer's role and presentation in society? This wasn't just a coat; it was a symbol. Curator: Precisely. Fashion, especially haute couture, always reflected societal structures. Garments like these served as visible markers of wealth and status, reinforcing social hierarchies. They told stories of access and privilege, broadcasting it to everyone who encountered the wearer. Editor: It’s the ultimate statement piece, really. So overt and showy. Beyond just status, there are hints of continuity here too, when I view it as part of the canon of wearable and textile design. You see little elements in later bridal designs echoing elements from here. Curator: Yes, this garment’s placement and construction is clearly informed by long histories, reaching far past our grasp of one owner’s life in New York at the turn of the century. The symbolism, as it has aged, retains potent links. A romantic notion of ‘bride,’ distilled, survives. Editor: Fascinating. Thinking about that wider cultural role – that sense of lasting ‘bride’ – it makes the piece feel surprisingly… relevant. Curator: Agreed. A remarkable survival then. From one fleeting human experience, to this solid and suggestive presence, enshrined and illuminated for an entirely new epoch.