American Frocks

Anonymous American Needleworker
Two-Piece Day Dress
ca. 1815-25
silk satins (striped and solid)
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Wedding Gown
1847
silk taffeta and embroidered silk chiffon
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Summer Dress
ca. 1855-65
printed silk gauze
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Ensemble worn by Mary Todd Lincoln
1861
silk velvet and silk satin
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Wedding Gown
1867
silk satin and needle lace
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous American Needleworker
Ball Gown worn by Minnie Maddern Fiske in silent film Becky Sharp
1915
embroidered silk
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Evening Gown worn by Mrs Woodrow Wilson
1915
beaded silk crepe, silk satin and silk velvet
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Evening Gown worn by Mrs Woodrow Wilson
1916
brocaded silk satin and tulle
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Wedding Gown
1927
beaded silk satin crepe
National Museum of American History,
Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Coconut Grove Caricature Dress
(depicting silent film stars)
ca. 1927
printed silk
National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Child's Dress
ca. 1930-40
silk satin
Anacostia Community Museum, Washington DC

Anonymous American Needleworker
Wedding Gown made from a World War II Parachute
1945
parachute silk
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Ruth Hensinger
Wedding Gown made from a World War II Parachute
1947
parachute nylon
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Ann Lowe
Dress
ca. 1960
silk taffeta and silk chiffon
National Museum of African American
History and Culture, Washington DC

Oleg Cassini
Evening Gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy
ca. 1962
embroidered and beaded silk satin
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Carolina Herrera
Dress
ca. 1987
printed silk with ribbon trim
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Arnold Scaasi
Evening Gown worn by Barbara Bush
1989
silk velvet and silk satin
National Museum of American History, Washington DC

    In my own shire, if I was sad,

Homely comforters I had:

The earth, because my heart was sore,

Sorrowed for the son she bore;

And standing hills, long to remain,

Shared their short-lived comrade's pain.

And bound for the same bourne as I,

On every road I wandered by,

Trod beside me, close and dear,

The beautiful and death-struck year:

Whether in the woodland brown

I heard the beechnut rustle down,

And saw the purple crocus pale

Flower about the autumn dale;

Or littering far the fields of May

Lady-smocks a-bleaching lay,

And like a skylit water stood

The bluebells in the azured wood.

    Yonder, lightening other loads,

The seasons range the country roads,

But here in London streets I ken

No such helpmates, only men;

And these are not in plight to bear,

If they would, another's care.

They have enough as 'tis: I see

In many an eye that measures me

The mortal sickness of a mind

Too unhappy to be kind.

Undone with misery, all they can

Is to hate their fellow man;

And till they drop they needs must still

Look at you and wish you ill.

– A.E. Housman (1896)