Name/Title
Wolfe-Gardner Wedding GownEntry/Object ID
2021.25.93Description
Olive Green Velvet Bridal Ensemble.
Gown, bolero jacket and belt together form the 1934 French (Vionnet) wedding gown ensemble.
(a.) Gown. Material: textile. Size: 19" W. cap sleeve edge to cap sleeve edge x 57" L. Description: One piece olive green silk velvet floor length gown. Extended shoulders form sleeves in one with bodice. The bodice is gathered into a raised waistine. The bias cut skirt drapes softly to the floor. The high front neckline forms a deep V in back, with sides gathered into the waist.
(b) Belt. Size: 2" W. x 30" L. Material: textile, metal, paste gems. Description: olive-green matching velvet belt; each end attached to a silver metal, paste gem-encrusted clasp in the form of a two-headed snake. Many stones are missing.
(c) Jacket. Material: textile, fur. Size: 12" shoulder to shoulder x 19" L. Description: Matching olive green velvet bolero jacket. 2" W. brown Kolinsky sable edging around neckline that extends down center bodice opening and jacket bottom to jacket back with three sable tails at center back neckline. Full-capped dolman sleeves gather into a formfitting sleeve that tapers to a point over the wrist.
(d) Headpiece. Material: textile. Size: 15" diameter cap with crown attached to a 2" x 20" multishaded brown ribbon. Description: brown tulle circlet fashioned into a cap, with a brown 2" W. ribbon at the base of the crown delineates the cap from the brim by creating a 3 1/2" W. tulle edging. One small bow sits on each side. Labels inside read: "Field-Schlick, Saint Paul" and "Reproduction, Agnes, 6 Rue St. Florentin, Paris".Use
Mary Gayle Wolfe of Minneapolis married Harvey Gardner in February 1934. The Gardners were residents of Janesville.Context
There are two 1934 write-ups about the wedding and Mary's ensemble; one in the Janesville Argus and one in the Waseca Journal (see below). Although based on the same information, the details of the two articles do not match. Additionally, the information about the attire does not line up with the actual garments.
Although beautiful, the gown and bolero are not made by Madeleine Vionnet, but would appear to be handmade, perhaps meant to be in the style of a Vionnet gown. The hat is not designed by Suzanne Talbot, but rather is a replication of one by Madame Agnès -- another Paris designer of the era, and is labeled as such, disproving the claims of the news articles.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Gardner, Mary Gayle (Wolfe)Create Date
March 20, 2024Update Date
June 2, 2026
