Description:
Evening gown or dress worn by the donor's mother, Eleanor Fitzgerald, sometime before her marriage to Irving N. Esleeck of Greenfield in 1916. Fitzgerald hailed from Hempstead, Long Island, New York. She was the daughter of Surrogate Court Judge, and attended Smith College (class of 1908). Although back fastening with metal hooks and eyes, as well as metal snaps (all requiring assistance when dressing) this dress illustrates the simplification of women's fashion that begins to take shape by the 19teens, including a straighter silhouette and paired-down decoration. Matching, applied vertical decoration in a repeating curve provides the only decoration, along with lace overlay on the bodice. The long, fitted sleeves are made from a lighter, net lace. The garment is lined in a black plain weave fabric, possibly silk, cotton, or a blend of the two fibers. While the dress is not labeled, other pieces worn by Fitzgerald in Historic Deerfield's collection indicate they were made by various dressmakers in New York City. By the 1920s, she was purchasing ready-made clothing as well from department stores like Bonwit Teller.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+94.004.14 |
