Worn as part of wedding ensemble by the donor's mother (née Florence Sanger Pullman, b. 8/11/1868, d. 6/5/1937) on April 29, 1896 on the occasion of her marriage to Frank Orren Lowden (b. 1/26/1896, d. 3/20/1943). In addition to this outer bodice,...
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...
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. ...
Cánovas del Castillo, Antonio, 1908-1984 (designer); Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (designer)
1950
Worn by donor, née Katherine Woodruff, at her marriage to Marshall Field, Jr. The dress was designed by Antonio Cánova del Castillo who opened the Haute Couture Department of the Elizabeth Arden Salon in New York in 1945.
Worn by donor, Virginie Washburne, at her 1948 wedding to Henry P. Isham, Jr. and again in 1949 to the wedding of Robert T. Isham and Bleecker Burnett.
Dior, Christian (designer); Christian Dior, Inc. (designer)
circa 1954
This dress was worn by the donor, Mrs. Henry D. Paschen (Maria Tallchief). Although the donor does not remember altering this garment, there are signs of alterations throughout the bodice, waist and skirt hem. The original lining to the bodice has...
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).
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.
Dior, Christian (designer); Christian Dior, Inc. (designer)
1947
Ballerina Maria Tallchief donated this dress, the Museum's only piece from Dior's historic first collection. Tallchief was prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet for eighteen years and later became the artistic director of Chicago's Lyric...
Worn by donor, née Grace Dickerman Vogel on the occasion of her first marriage to Michael Hartman Finnell on September 11, 1954 at St. Charles Episcopal Church in Milwaukee, WI. The dress was designed by Priscilla of Boston to incorporate lace...
Worn by the donor's Mother, Mrs. Charles DeWitt O'Kieffe, Jr., née Mary Louise Wright, as a wedding dress in a civil ceremony December 31, 1927, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mary Louise Wright was born January 12, 1906 and died November 13, 1985....
Tappé, Herman Patrick, 1876-1954 (designer); Tappé Herman, Inc. (designer)
1938
Worn by Mrs. Robert F. Carr, Jr. (neé Vesta Culbertson) to her first wedding on January 15, 1938. Since divorced, she is now Mrs. Charles H. Morse, Jr.
