FIDM Museum Blog

Video from the Costume Colloquium III

If Christina's recent post describing her experiences at the Costume Colloquium in Florence piqued your curiosity, you're in luck! Videos of all the conference presentations are now available on the Costume Colloquium website. You can watch Christina's presentation, “Doris Langley Moore: Ultimate ‘Woman in Fashion’” here. Find Christina's presentation by clicking on the button reading 9/11/2012; her presentation is the second listed. According to the Costume Colloquium's website, you'll need to view the video using either the Internet Explorer or Chrome browsers.

Pictured below is the c. 1878 wedding gown that started Christina's research on Doris Langley Moore almost 10 years ago! She was first introduced to this princess-line gown by Moore's book, The Woman in Fashion. In 2001, the gown was donated to the FIDM Museum by the Helen Larson Estate. Readers, watch the video of Christina's presentation to see how this wedding gown fits into her research.

Wedding Gown
c. 1878
2001.31.4
Gift of the Helen Larson Estate

Wedding gown, 1910-1911

 

One of the priciest clothing purchases a woman can make, a wedding gown is worn only once. After the wedding, the gown is carefully tucked away, becoming an heirloom for future generations. In some families, a wedding gown is later altered and worn by a daughter or close relative of the bride. Other wedding gowns make their way into museum collections after generations of careful storage by descendants of the original wearer. Because of their sentimental value, wedding gowns are often in excellent condition when they enter museum collections. This ivory silk gown was worn by bride Mary Wells née Peterson at her wedding. According to records accompanying the donation, Mary's wedding took place in November of 1910 or 1911 in Manila, Philippines.

Wedding gown worn by Mary Peterson Wells
1910 or 1911
Gift of Kathy Kobayashi
2003.799.1A-G