Dress

Design House House of Worth French
Designer Charles Frederick Worth French, born England
1883–85
Not on view

Lavish textiles were not only used for evening wear in Worth's designs, as this day dress of cut and uncut voided velvet attests. The ensemble also provides an example of Worth's practice of incorporating elements of historic dress in his designs. The large scale of the pomegranate and floral motif follow the style of Louis XIV textile patterns. The bodice and overskirt, made in one piece and worn over a separate skirt, is known as a polonaise, a modified version of an eighteenth-century style popularized by Marie Antoinette. A day dress like this would have been appropriate for walking or making social calls. The back of the polonaise has been expertly draped to accommodate the bustle worn by fashionable women in the 1880s.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dress
  • Design House: House of Worth (French, 1858–1956)
  • Designer: Charles Frederick Worth (French (born England), Bourne 1825–1895 Paris)
  • Date: 1883–85
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: silk
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Shepley, 1953
  • Object Number: C.I.53.63a, b
  • Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.