Dress

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Dress

Entry/Object ID

2014.40.1

Description

Brown silk chiffon and velvet dress composed of three layers: a plain light brown silk underdress/slip with two layers of floral-patterned chiffon on top. The bottom layer of ivory chiffon has machine-embroidered decoration in a floral pattern; the top layer of brown chiffon is undecorated. The bodice is constructed so that it appears to be a jacket with an underblouse; it closes with snaps down the left side of the bodice inset. A band of beige lace tops the front neckline. The underslip is sleeveless, while the embroidered layer of chiffon has half-length sleeves. The outer sleeves of plain chiffon are open below the elbow and end in wide velvet cuffs. A wide velvet band emphasizes the low waist, which actually falls at the hips. The bottom half of the skirt is brown velvet.

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1925

Dimensions

Length

45-1/2 in

Material

Silk, silk chiffon, velvet, beaded decoration

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

By the mid-1920s, some hemlines had nearly risen to the knee, although not everyone chose to wear such short skirts. Drop-waists continued to be popular, but garments began to increase in complexity with the use of decorative seaming, contrasting materials, floating panels, and overlays. The most fashionable fabrics were light and flowing: filmy chiffons, fluid silks, soft velvets, fine cottons, and lightweight wools. This dress is composed of two discrete layers of silk chiffon—an outer of dark brown and an inner of ivory—which are sewn together as one, and worn over a separate sleeved dark orange silk taffeta underdress. Easily visible through the filmy outer layer of brown fabric, the floral embroidery pattern is confined to the inner layer of ivory chiffon.