Dinner dress 1875 - 1879

This dinner dress, created by Mrs. K. B. McComb, showcases a rich, dark red fabric that immediately captures the eye with its sheen and texture. The stark, vertical lines of dark embellishments provide a counterpoint to the garment's voluminous skirt. The dress's structure reveals much about societal norms of the time. Its cinched waist and full skirt emphasize an hourglass figure, reinforcing culturally constructed ideals of femininity. The lines, created by the ornamentation, draw attention to and exaggerate the body’s form. The juxtaposition of exposed and concealed elements engages with semiotic codes of modesty and allure. This garment functions as a complex sign, communicating status, taste, and adherence to social conventions. It destabilizes the relationship between the body and its representation. Through its careful construction and intricate detailing, the dress invites us to consider how fashion operates as a language, articulating and negotiating cultural meanings.