University of Chicago Maroon

Historical Trends in Gilded Age High Society Fashion

This beautifully detailed antique color print, titled Chicago, captures the peak of high-society Gilded Age and early Edwardian fashion. The illustration depicts an affluent woman posing outdoors by a stone fountain, providing an elite cultural record that links architectural wealth with the meticulously tailored, restrictive wardrobe standards expected of wealthy American women during the turn of the twentieth century.

Design Details of the Crimson Walking Gown and Plumed Bonnet

The woman models a striking deep crimson red walking gown featuring a sharply cinched waist and a high illusion neckline made of delicate polka-dot lace. Lifting her heavy skirt reveals a decorative white lace petticoat, while her sophisticated ensemble is completed by a matching velvet bonnet adorned with voluminous feathers, reflecting the dramatic winter millinery trends of the early 1900s.