Name/Title
Black Cape #2Entry/Object ID
C.0033Description
Woman's High Collar, Beaded Mourning Black CapeContext
This cape is an example of daytime outerwear that was likely worn by a woman in mourning. Whether the loss of a husband, fiancé, or close relative, women were bound by societal standards of the time to wear clothing that reflected a recent loss. Mourning lasted one full year, during which time they would wear exclusively black clothing for the first six months, then transition into a period of "half-mourning" when it was acceptable to begin wearing darker, more understated colors. By the stich patterns and intricate beading, as well as the silk material and style of the garment, we can deduce this belonged to a woman of higher status during the late-Victorian or Edwardian period.