Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
A jacket like this one would have been considered very stylish in the early 1890s. Of a heavy wool fabric, it would have provided welcome warmth on a cold New England winter night. Short fitted coats and jackets were very popular early in the decade. They often had fur collars and tended to be adorned with embroidery, applique, or other types of surface decoration. This jacket is of slightly plainer variety, although it still has all the most fashionable features of the time: over-sized shoulders, wide flaring lapels, and angled pocket slits, all of which contribute to the illusion of a small waist. The only embellishments are the overly large buttons and the dark brown velvet collar. Blouse--”waist”--and skirt combinations were growing in popularity as well. When added to a separate like this jacket, they made for an attractive three-piece outfit.
