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. ...
Worn by Mamie Buffenstein on occasion of her marriage to William Nathan (born in Germany, 1882, died in Chicago October 1954) on June 3, 1924 in her parent's home at 1310 S. Lawndale Avenue, Chicago.
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).
Dior, Christian (designer); Marshall Field & Company (distributor)
1948
This gown is from the first Dior New York Collection designed by Christian Dior. It should be belted very tightly at the waist with a rust colored belt. Worn by donor, Mrs. William Englehaupt (Dorothy Fuller). Dorothy Fuller's name is synonymous...
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.
This evening gown was made by Mark Heister for Dorothy Fuller Englehaupt for the wedding of her son, William Englehaupt III. Mark Heister also designed the bride's and bridesmaid's dresses for the same wedding. At the time of purchase, this dress...
Worn by donor, Mrs. William McCormick Blair Jr., who purchased the dress for $2,125 and wore this Balenciaga evening gown to an opening of the Metropolitan Opera.
Dior, Christian (designer); Christian Dior, Inc. (designer)
1948
Worn by donor, Mrs. William Englehaupt (Dorothy Fuller). Dorothy Fuller's name is synonymous with Chicago fashion; she has worked in the industry for more than fifty years. During the Dior era, Fuller was assistant fashion director of Marshall...
James launched this mermaid-like gown early in his career and created several versions of it over a period of twenty years. The name of the dress, La Sirène, refers to sea creatures in Greek mythology who used their enchanting voices to lure...
