Dress

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegance of late 19th-century America with this exquisite silk and linen dress from 1890, crafted by an unknown artist. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, this garment the refined craftsmanship of the Gilded Age, a time when American fashion blended European influences with domestic innovation. The use of silk—prized for its lustrous sheen and luxurious drape—paired with linen's crisp durability suggests a versatile piece suited for daytime wear, highlighting the era's emphasis on both opulence and practicality in women's attire. By 1890, fashion was e...