French Wedding Gown – 1913

A bride stands with her back to the viewer in order to display the veil of her wedding costume. She stands in contrapposto with an oval mirror in her left hand, and her right hand on her hip. Her head is turned in profile as she inspects herself in the mirror. Only the lower quarter of her wedding dress is shown. The remaining three-quarters is covered by an elaborate lace veil which falls from her head to just below knee-level. Her lace veil covers her head snugly, gathered into a band around her head. At the back the band is decorated with black rosettes. The veil then spreads across her shoulders and falls down her back to her knees.

Illustrated in black and white, the veil has a rosette and floral patterns with a scalloped edge. Two long and elaborate tassels hang from the front on either side of the veil, which would prevent the veil from slipping backwards as she walks. Her dress is narrow, with a hobble skirt and an Empire waistline with a belt, probably of ribbon or satin. Soft gathers are visible above and below the belt. The sleeves are long and snug, and seem almost transparent, with two bands on the arm, and ruffles over her hands. Three bands decorate the lower part of the skirt; one lace applique, one vertical pleating, and a narrow ruffle. She wears white strapped court shoes with Cuban heels, and stands on a blue and purple patterned groundline suggestive of a carpet. The illustration is in black and white with the exception of the model’s face, the bluish reflection in the hand-held mirror, and the groundline.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges