Evening dress 1900 - 1903

Editor: So, here we have an evening dress from the early 1900s. It's currently residing here at the Met. The mixed media, textile construction really strikes me; it almost feels like a story waiting to be told. What symbolic meanings or stories do you see woven into the fabrics and design of this dress? Curator: The dress is an exceptional example of Art Nouveau aesthetics. Note how the linear patterns in the black panels evoke images of night-blooming flowers—almost funerary. In contrast, the ecru sections and lace point towards rituals celebrating weddings. It reflects society's complicated, often opposing feelings about women. Does this garment appear constrained or liberated to you? Editor: I can see that; there is certainly both opulence and restraint! Liberated...I am unsure. The waist does seem awfully cinched. Is there more that I'm missing here? Curator: The "S" silhouette, achieved through corsetry, pushes the bust forward and the hips back. Observe the lace—its handmade quality denotes status and hints at traditional femininity. At the time, women wore symbolic meanings on their sleeves, using clothes to communicate their roles and aspirations in a rapidly changing world. What is the overall feeling that the dress provokes in you? Editor: Melancholy, yet undeniably beautiful and complex. The lace, now that you mention it, provides such complexity and juxtaposition. Curator: It certainly speaks to both fragility and power. Thank you for sharing your perspective. Editor: Thank you for bringing new meanings and nuances to my eye.