Pelerine

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 1870s American fashion with *Pelerine*, a exquisite silk cape from the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dating to around 1875, this garment exemplifies the refined accessories popular among women during the post-Civil War Victorian era. Crafted from luxurious silk, its shimmering texture and lightweight drape would have offered both style and modesty, often layered over dresses for daytime elegance or promenade wear. Pelerines like this one were short capes or shawl-collars that framed the shoulders and neck, a hallmark of mid-19th-century silhouette trends emphasizing volume at the back and a nipped waist. Silk, prized for its sheen and dye-holding properties, signified wealth and craftsmanship in an era when American textiles were increasingly influenced by European imports and burgeoning domestic mills. This piece reflects the cultural shift toward ready-to-wear elements blended with bespoke tailoring, bridging everyday luxury and social display. Generously gifted through the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection (originally from Mrs. Townsend Russell in 1925), *Pelerine* preserves a tangible slice of Gilded Age femininity. Though by an unknown maker, its survival highlights the Costume Institute's role in safeguarding ephemeral fashion history for modern eyes.