James, Charles, 1906-1978 (designer); Marshall Field & Company (distributor)
1954
Charles James originally designed the Butterfly ball gown for Mrs. William Randolph Hearst Jr., for the price of $1,250. The sculptural design lives up to a comment once made by Spanish couturier Cristbal Balenciaga, "Charles James is not only the...
This Renaissance-style dress was worn by the donor, née Janet Lawrence, on the occasion of her marriage to Robert McCormick Adams on May 3, 1924 at St. James Episcopal Church in Chicago, followed by a reception at the home of the bride' s parents...
Worn by donor's grandmother, Annie Louisa Libby on the occasion of her marriage to Mr. William French Burrows, September 7, 1880 and again by donor on June 13, 1942, on the occasion of her marriage to Mr. Lawrence Dawson.
Worn by donor's mother, Mrs. Nicholas Klesen (née Martha Scholz) for her wedding on June 18, 1910 at St. Nicholas Church, 113th Place and State Street, Chicago.
Purchased by the donor, (née Marie Campbell, subsequently Marie Campbell Crane), at I. Magnin for $500. Worn at her wedding to Judge Walter J. Cummings on September 6, 1975 at Holy Name Cathedral, Lady Chapel, and Reception at the Tavern Club....
Worn by Magdalen Szczesny (born 1904, died 1980) on the occasion of her marriage to Robert Lisenbey (born 1905, died 1970) on May 30, 1930 in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood.
This dress is called Infanta, or sometimes Williamsburg, referring to skirts worn at two different times in history. Infanta was a title used by royal women in the seventeenth century Spanish court, whose wide skirts are captured in paintings by...
Designed initially in black silk chiffon and tulle, this gown became James's most executed custom order. Vogue featured the garment in 1951. James's wife, Nancy, wore it in the mid 1950s and he created at least one version with a cocktail-length...
