Treasures of 1800s Dress at the Chester County Historical Society

This spring, I had the delightful opportunity to visit the Chester County Historical Society (www.chestercohistorical.org) to attend a symposium and discuss shoes in a workshop as part of the program. (More here) If you have the opportunity to visit and take in the exhibition “Profiles: Chester County Clothing of the 1800s, ” you will be amply rewarded. An abundant selection of garments for men, women and children form the exhibition, which was extended through 3 January 2015.

As you step into the main gallery, you will be warmly greeted by well-lit and well-designed mannequins and imaginative vignettes. While there is much to absorb and the installation is quite full, it never feels overwhelming. For those interested in historic garments of the 19^th century, it is a treasure trove, pure and simple.

As the exhibition materials relate:

…the exhibition will include more than 40 fine and ordinary examples of outerwear worn by women, men and children that will show the evolution of clothing profiles in the 1800s.  It includes Empire style gowns of the early 1800s, children’s Turkey red print dresses dating from about the 1840s, elaborate men’s vests from numerous decades, and highly detailed fashionable dresses of the Victorian era.  Important to Chester County, and an installation highlight, is the contrast between Quaker plain dress and fashionable wear that clearly distinguished a person’s identity within the community.  Other important aspects of local dress include fabric choices that embody the advancement of chemical dyes and styles of clothing that played a significant role in women’s health.  These and other topics will shed light on the local and national trends. 

There is also a virtual exhibition: http://chestercohistorical.org/profiles-chester-county-clothing-1800s

Dazzling! #Gold #silk #brocade dress, 1855-65

Silk #Victorian dress - harmonious balanced design #ruching

A Perfect New England Pairing: Printed Gown and Quilted Petticoat, 1760s+

Exhibit highlights "From the Elegant to the Everyday: 200 Years of Fashion in Northern New England" at the Saco Museum

Gown, 1770-1790
probably Portsmouth, NH
printed cotton, linen
Warner House Association, Gift of Charles Sherburne Penhallow

When this gown was made, printed cotton fabric was considered a luxury and
was highly fashionable-only a fine silk would have been more costly and
desirable.  The printed design was achieved using a separate wooden block
engraved with the pattern for each color.  During the 18th century, there
was no workable solid green dye-the only way to make green was to print blue
on top of yellow.  If you look closely, you can see where the two colors did
not line up exactly in the printing process, and a bit of the blue or yellow
is visible along the edges of some of the motifs.  The original petticoat
for this gown may have been either of the same printed fabric, or of a
contrasting solid color like this quilted example.

Quilted petticoat, 1760-1800
England or New England
silk quilted to a worsted backing, woolen batting, linen waistband
Warner House Association

Quilted petticoats were available ready-made in the 18th century, although
women did make their own at home as well.  The product of professional
quilting shops in England, many local milliners would have stocked them for
their clientele.  The silk exterior made them fashionable garments, but the
wool batting and backing made them warm, which was particularly appealing
during cold New England winters.  They first became stylish in England in
the mid-18th century, but women in chilly climates continued to wear them
into the early 19th century.  This petticoat is quilted in a pattern of a
meandering floral vine.

Guest Blogger, Tara Vose Raiselis
Museum Director & Exhibit Curator
Dyer Library/Saco Museum