Dress 1897 - 1900

This dress, by the House of Worth, is a fascinating artifact from an era of immense social change. Worth was the first to design clothes that women could purchase "off the rack," a precursor to ready-to-wear fashion as we know it today. As you examine this garment, consider the lifestyle it represents. The elaborate design and luxurious fabrics, like velvet and lace, speak to the constraints and expectations placed on women of the upper class. The dress itself, with its corseted silhouette, literally embodies the physical restrictions imposed on women. Simultaneously, the beauty and artistry of the dress reflects the cultural capital these women embodied, as emblems of their husband's wealth and status. The House of Worth catered to an elite clientele, crafting garments that were both beautiful and symbolic. This dress stands as a reminder of fashion's complex role in shaping identity and communicating social status.