Worth, Charles Frédérick, 1825-1895 (designer); Worth and Bobergh (designer)
1861
Although married in Chicago in 1858, it was not until 1874 that the McCormick family constructed a permanent Chicago residence. They had homes in both New York and Washington and traveled abroad extensively, particularly to European expositions at...
Anita Carolyn Blair wore this dress to the debut of Gladys High in Chicago, a bold and possibly scandalous choice that would have upstaged the young woman hosting the party.
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...
Donor Franc Reece married John Roger Williams on June 19, 1901. Corset was bought at Marshall Field & Co. and part of her trousseau. It was never worn.
During a visit to the Museum in 1974, James noted that this dress was originally created for Marjorie Merriweather Post. A review of the interior shows numerous alterations, including a large reduction in the overall size of the torso and hips. ...
Florence Hooker Cheney (died circa 1905) wore this dress when she married William Cheney Jr. on September 11, 1901. Worn with bright pink satin corset (1984.503.17) and possibly also bright pink garters (1984.503.18).
Hanchen Strauss and Gardner H. Stern (b. ca. 1904), both native Chicagoans, were married on February 12, 1927. The dress was purchased from Blum's Vogue in Chicago.
In the late 1950s, James created a limited number of designs for Albrecht Furs using a faux fur called Borgana, which was supplied and marketed by the company. Although James liked to experiment with manmade materials for the interiors of his...
James designed this dress for New Yorker Millicent Rogers in 1949. Two year later the design appeared in Vogue magazine, when it was photographed by Horst and included in James's "black and white" collection. James described the dress as a...
Part of the trousseau of Mrs. Ebenezer Andrews, Jr. (née Helen E. Robinson) of 389 Wabash Ave., mother of the donor. The wedding took place on September 15, 1869. The gown was cut and fitted at Field, Leiter and Company.
Purchased by the donor's great grandmother, Mrs. Augustus Newland Eddy (née Abby Louise Spencer), when she was in Paris with her father in 1878. According to the donor's grandmother, Mrs. Eddy wore this dress for a portrait painted by G.P.A....
