About the Look

This gown, designed by French fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth, is made of seafoam green silk with woven braids and fringe trims. This dress consists of a skirt and two bodices; one for daytime and another for evening occasions. The day bodice (Figs. 1, 3) has three-quarter length sleeves with square neckline, self-covered buttons, and a dark purple ribbon and fringe trims, whereas the evening bodice (Figs. 2, 6) has a portrait neckline decorated with distinctive pleats and gathered tulle.

The bustle silhouette is straight in the front with soft drapery volume on the back (Fig. 3). The woven braid and fringe trims are placed on the front of the skirt horizontally as well as along with the neckline, sleeves, and bottom edge of the day bodice. The embroidery on the trim features diverse colors and a gold thread (Fig. 4). Based on pattern of the woven braid, the Metropolitan Museum of Art states that:

“Worth rarely scrutinized or adapted forms from the East; in this unusual example, he has emulated Middle Eastern enamels.”

See, for example, an enameled and gilded bottle from the 13th century (Fig. 5), which shares a similar color palette and floriate motifs. The evening bodice makes dramatic use of the ribbon in fan pleats across the bust, which is filled in with swathes of satin and tulle fabric (Fig. 6).

The dress includes a label, seen in figure 7, marking this as a Worth gown and includes the address of his couture house in Paris (7, rue de la Pais). Worth is thought to be one of the first designers to have his own labels sewn into clothes he designed (De Marly).

Fashions were changing in the early 1870s, as the crinolined skirt silhouette popular during the 1860s narrowed with the volume of the skirt now in the back. Figure 8, like the Worth gown, displays the newer, more slender style. Even though the front is straight and flat, the back has decorative drapery that exaggerates a woman’s backside.

Worth was known for popularizing trends. The “fancies” cited in the Harper’s Bazar quotation above may be in reference to adornments like his use of fringe. Fashion plates of the time frequntly feature fringe and trims over the entire dress as fringe had become one of the more fashionable trims of the era. Godey’s Magazine’s ‘Chitchat’ in October 1870 notes its rise:

“Satin has lost its popularity for trimming; A suit elaborately trimmed with satin now looks old fashioned. It is still used a little for narrow pipings. Velvet has taken its place; Fringes of all widths, quilled ribbons, gimps, passementeries, and all imported trimmings are more used than for a year past.” (388)

Worth’s choice to employ horizontal trim details across the front of the skirt, as seen also in figure 8, became extremely popular circa 1872.

An 1873 La Mode illustrée fashion plate (Fig. 9) and an 1873 bronze-colored dress (Fig. 10), also designed by Worth, employ the same horizontal trim details. In the early 1870s, we also see the Infanta Maria Jose of Portugal (Fig. 11) wearing a pale ball gown with an off-shoulder neckline and apparent horizontal trim line on the front.

Two other surviving early 1870s dresses (Figs. 12-13) resemble Worth’s dress with their use of horizontal ribbon trim across the skirt with matching trim at the neckline and cuffs, as well as bow details. Although these dresses use lace rather than fringe trim, their design details and overall effect are akin to Worth’s dress.