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  • Coat Dress, about 1950

    Coat Dress, about 1950

    This is an interesting dress in that it appears to be a transitional late 1940s style. It includes features of prewar fashion such as the shoulder pads, but also has some of the fullness in the skirt characteristic of circa 1947 New Look styling. It was owned by Elizabeth Palmer Ward DeVine of Ann Arbor, MI. Elizabeth Palmer Ward DeVine was born in to one of Michigan's oldest mining families.Her great great grandfather, Charles Henry Palmer, was a pioneer investor and developer of mines and rail…

  • Dress Ensemble, 1950-1953

    Dress Ensemble, 1950-1953

    Another simple yet stunning evening dress and cape by the brilliant and dramatic Spanish-born designer, Cristobal Balenciaga.Born in Decatur, Illinois in 1897 Elizabeth Parke married Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone, in 1921.Once described by a friend as, "the most luxurious woman in the history of luxury," Elizabeth Parke Firestone's clothing collection illustrates her impeccable taste in fashion.

  • Evening Dress and Coat, about 1961

    Evening Dress and Coat, about 1961

    Born in Decatur, Illinois in 1897 Elizabeth Parke married Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone, in 1921.Once described by a friend as, "the most luxurious woman in the history of luxury," Elizabeth Parke Firestone's clothing collection illustrates her impeccable taste in fashion.

  • Black silk faille dress from the nineteenth century

    Black silk faille dress from the nineteenth century

    This woman's black silk faille dress has satin stripes, braid, jet bead and fringe trim. The skirt attached to the top at the back only. The dress has a double row of black crocheted buttons with tiny jet bead centers down the front of its jacket-like top. There is a deep pleated flounce bustle at the back. See matching dolman number 48.47.1. Worn by Mrs. Calvin Maxfield ( Jane Graham) b. 1844, Hartland, MI. Died 1883, Plymouth, MI. Her husband operated a hotel in Plymouth.

  • Blue silk dress with chain stitch embroidery from the mid '20s or early '30s

    Blue silk dress with chain stitch embroidery from the mid '20s or early '30s

    This bright blue silk women's dress has all over machine made chain stitch embroidery. It has green and white leaves as well as two triangles in the design in front. The dress has a square neck, long sleeves and is lined with blue chiffon. Label: "Mae & Hattie Green, PARIS, NEW YORK, 16 East 52nd Street."

  • Two-piece knit dress with tunic top from the 1920s

    Two-piece knit dress with tunic top from the 1920s

    This two-piece knit dress has a tunic top and plain skirt. There are nine buttons on each side of the tunic as well as machine embroidery in shades of orange and tan. Label: "MADE IN FRANCE, Mae & Hattie Green, 587, Fifth Avenue. NEW-YORK."

  • White wool crepe dress from the early twentieth century

    White wool crepe dress from the early twentieth century

    Women's sheer white wool crepe dress, trimmed with heavy floral lace. One piece. "V" neck, natural waist, 3/4 length sleeves. Ankle-length straight skirt with peplum of lace and wide band of lace at hem. Trimmed with rows of pairs of crocheted balls, down front and sides. Original purchase price was $125.00. Owned by Mrs. Carrie Norbury, co-owner of the Norbro Shop on Grand River at Woodward

  • Two-piece tan silk shantung dress from the nineteenth century

    Two-piece tan silk shantung dress from the nineteenth century

    This woman's two-piece tan silk shantung dress has a skirt with a gathered side pannier. The dress is trimmed with brown faille, and the curaisse bodice has brown faille trim. It has brown panel in front with a large brown and tan bow, and streamers in back. Its sleeves are finished with a lace-edged white ruffle. The dress is lined. Note: Coat with hood 1950.001.011 matches the dress. See also matching parasol 1950.001.101. Note: Two pieces from trousseau of Della Miles Bertch, born c. 187…

  • Red gown with lace yoke from the early twentieth century

    Red gown with lace yoke from the early twentieth century

    Womn's ruby red silk velvet gown with lace yoke. The dress is high waisted with elbow length sleeves, and has a "D'Haene, Detroit" label. For a tall, slim woman, dress has a 19" waist. Probably worn by donor's mother, Margaret McMillan ( daughter of Robert, of G&R McMillan). Mrs. Arthur David Holmes. He was a doctor, specializing in children. Married in Detroit, 1898. Margaret b. c. 1864. Daughters Margaret M. born c. 1899, Agnes May born c. 1900.

  • Dark green wool two-piece day dress from the nineteenth century

    Dark green wool two-piece day dress from the nineteenth century

    This woman's dark green wool day dress has two pieces, and its collar, cuffs, waistband, and front of bodice are made of paisley-patterned wool. The lower portion of skirt has a matching paisley pattern. Worn by Miss Esther Brown, cousin of donor's mother. Miss Brown was born in 1846. Donor's mother was the daughter of tobacco manufacturer and Michigan Governor J.J. Bagley.

  • White silk and chiffon dress from the early twentieth century

    White silk and chiffon dress from the early twentieth century

    Woman's one piece dress in white silk and chiffon. The silk forms the body of the dress, and the chiffon is used for the collar, under-waist, and sleeves. The bodice, cummerbund, belt, cuffs, and skirt are embroidered with white silk floss, in a pattern of roses and butterflys. The bodice has a V-neck, and square collar, and the skirt has a peg top. Made by Detroit dressmaker Bertha Krenz.

  • Women's suit with divided skirt and matching jacket of tan linen from the early twentieth century

    Women's suit with divided skirt and matching jacket of tan linen from the early twentieth century

    A woman's suit that consists of divided skirt and matching jacket of tan linen. The tailored suit has a long jacket with four buttons in front, and two buttons on the cuff of each sleeve. The skirt has eleven buttons on the panel that conceals the pants, and a separate belt. Note: Helen Andrus Merrell Howard, daughter of Dr. Frank D. Howard, married Francis (C.or E.)Merrell c. 1908, and moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. Original records call this a bicycling suit, but it might have been worn a…

  • Sleeveless tennis dress from the mid '20s or early '30s

    Sleeveless tennis dress from the mid '20s or early '30s

    This woman's sleeveless tennis dress has a square neck and is made of a heavy, cream-color cotton fabric. It was made by Mrs. Robinson. The donors were daughters of tailor John C. Wettlaufer from whose shop the dress came.

  • Black silk velvet one piece dress from the early twentieth century

    Black silk velvet one piece dress from the early twentieth century

    Women's black silk velvet, one piece dress having short sleeves, a V-neck, and an ankle length skirt with a peg top. The bodice has black net over white net, and sleeves of plain, double-thick black net. The bodice is trimmed with black and crystal sequins, and jet and crystal beads. The sides of the dress have triangular panniers, shaped with weights. Worn by Mrs. Wm. Traub.

  • Navy crepe maternity dress from the early twentieth century

    Navy crepe maternity dress from the early twentieth century

    This navy crepe women's maternity dress has long sleeves with cuffs, is gathered at the waist by an elastic and has navy blue floss embroidered trim. The top is collarless in front and has an 8" collar in back. The dress is fastened by several sets of hooks and eyes around the waist band. The ankle length skirt has a flying panel at the front attached to a yoke band, and the peplum is attached at the back. There is a 24" band around the waist which hooks under the flying panel in front.

  • Brown velvet dress from the 1920s

    Brown velvet dress from the 1920s

    Women's brown velvet dress with long, reddish-gold lame sleeves having velvet cuffs. Sleeves are very full and smocked at top. Small stand-up collar ending in two long ribbons in front (brown velvet on one side and gold lame on other) that tie in a bow at front of neck. A sash of velvet and gold lame is fastened at the sides. The dress ties in back, and has a small dickie of lame snaps across opening at neck. The dress does not have a label. Belonged to Mrs. Crowley.

  • Blue silk taffeta dress from the nineteenth century

    Blue silk taffeta dress from the nineteenth century

    This woman's one piece, blue silk taffeta dress has a pattern of tiny blue and white checks. The garment has a fitted bodice that buttons down front, and its buttons are covered by a panel of pleated blue iridescent taffeta. A band of embroidered iridescent blue taffeta, having a peacock-tail design, is edged with maroon around the back-neck, and over the shoulders. The front forms a V-shaped waist that separates toward the hips. The same material and pattern are around the cuffs of the long …

  • Iridescent maroon taffeta dress from the nineteenth century

    Iridescent maroon taffeta dress from the nineteenth century

    This woman's dress is of iridescent maroon taffeta. The three piece garment has a cut-away style bodice that is fitted, and reaches to the front waist. It has a long peplum on a separate belt, round shoulders, tight sleeves, and no collar. Black and red silk fringe runs down both sides of the bodice and across the back (simulating a collar) and around the edge of tail. The long full skirt has a train in back, and a cross hatch pattern around the bottom of the skirt that is made with black braid…

  • Two piece, dark purple taffeta Women's dress from the nineteenth century

    Two piece, dark purple taffeta Women's dress from the nineteenth century

    This two piece, dark purple taffeta woman's dress is trimmed with purple velvet. The bodice has a basque waist, and buttons down the front with thirteen cut white and smoke pearl buttons. It has velvet lapels, and a loose back shoulder yoke and tab across front opening just below lapels. Its velvet sleeves are trimmed with bands of taffeta, and have ruching at the cuffs. An additional row of pleated white silk ruching is also at the cuff. The back has a longer center peplum effect ending in a l…

  • Evening gown of ecru lace from the 1930s

    Evening gown of ecru lace from the 1930s

    This women's evening gown of ecru lace with ecru chiffon underskirt is sleeveless with wide shoulder straps and a scoop neckline front and back. It has a wide lace collar or ruffle with a scalloped edge which covers the bodice front and back. The plain, flared skirt is ankle length. It has a wide suede belt covered by the same ecru lace, with a rhinestone buckle. There is a loose, waist length jacket with short sleeves having wide mink fur cuffs. It is scalloped around the entire edge and …