Evening dress 1893 - 1895

This evening dress was made by the House of Worth, a Parisian fashion house, likely sometime between 1858 and 1956, the period of the artist's life. Velvet, like that used here, was costly and difficult to produce. Notice its plush texture, especially in the sleeves, and its rich color that signifies power. These aspects indicate that the wearer of the dress was wealthy, a member of high society. Lace was similarly difficult to make and served as a marker of elevated social status. The House of Worth helped establish the concept of haute couture – that is, clothing made to order for private clients. Historians of fashion can consult publications like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, as well as museum collections and archives of fashion houses, to understand the dress's original context. These help us understand not just the aesthetic of the garment but the social and economic conditions that shaped its production and consumption.