Coatdress of blue knit synthetic blend; rolled rounded collar and lapels, short-sleeves; four-button center front closure with two rows of four gold-colored textured buttons; princess seams and waistline seam; faux pocket flap on either side-front at waistline, slit pockets on side-front seam at hip.
The donor, Susan Alexander wore this dress during a momentous event in her career as a lawyer. In February of 1970, Ms. Alexander and her co-counsel, Sybille Fritzsche, filed a lawsuit challenging the Illinois abortion law. They were ordered to argue the merits of their position before a three-judge court in September of the same year. Ms. Alexander argued in favor of invalidating the restrictive law as unconstitutional thus defending the rights of women with low incomes. The court, agreeing with Fritzche and Alexander's position issued its ruling in early 1971 and struck down the law. Unfortunately, when the lawyers' opponents appealed, the U.S. Supreme Court did not allow the court opinion to be enforced because it anticipated ruling in Roe vs. Wade. Ms. Alexander wore this coatdress during her oral argument. After the argument, the donor was told that a sketch of her in the dress was featured on NBC nightly news, but she missed the newscast.
Curatorial Statement
The style of this navy blue wool mini 'coatdress' was quite fashionable in the late 1960s and early 1970s.