by Meredith McGovern, Art and Culture Collections Manager
Wedding season is upon us! As a guest, one of my favorite moments is waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle, wondering what her dress will look like. These days, brides are faced with so many options: strapless, one-shouldered, a-line, mermaid, white, ivory, princess, old Hollywood glam, retro, cathedral train, and tea-length; the list goes on! But what about brides of yesteryear? What look did they go for on their big day? Let’s sample a few wedding dresses from the Indiana State Museum collection to find out. Click on the images to enlarge them.
- No, this is not a nightgown. Elizabeth Baker supposedly said “I do” to Cornelius Lowe in this dress in 1806. The empire style with the high waist and the long, loose skirt was “in” during the early 19th century. Its simplicity is beautiful.
- Margaret Gordon wore this two-piece gold silk dress during her 1865 wedding to William Abel Findley. Please excuse the bare midriff in the photo, Margaret would have worn the bodice snug over the skirt. Her full skirt and coatsleeves that curve at the elbow were very popular at the time.
- Gertrude Spann walked down the aisle in this ivory silk satin number in 1908. The small waist and billowing bodice made this a good choice for that era. Thirty years later, her daughter Marjorie wore the dress to her own wedding — how sentimental! — after removing the original collar and adding new sleeves.
- I’m sure Thelma Wildern’s guests nodded approvingly when she donned this dress in 1938. The sweetheart neckline, short puffed sleeves, and flowing net skirt made for a dreamy concoction.
Are those dresses or elements of those dresses still in vogue? You bet! Count on seeing a full skirt, sweetheart neckline, bustle or tight waistline at a wedding this fall.
Filed under: culture, history, museums | Tagged: brides, styles, wedding dresses | 1 Comment »