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  • 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 …

  • Evening dress with a black crepe bodice and a pink and gold striped taffeta skirt from the 1940s

    Evening dress with a black crepe bodice and a pink and gold striped taffeta skirt from the 1940s

    This woman's evening dress has a black crepe bodice and a pink and gold striped taffeta skirt. It has padded shoulders and long, sleeves zippered at the wrist. The v-neck is repeated in the wide angle V of the waistline and stripes of the skirt. There is a side zipper. Label: 'Lizzette Mammoth, Book Bldg., Det.' "New York Creation, New York Dress Institute." Donor said she purchased dress at Walter's in Detroit in 1937, but it has the Mammoth label, and the NY Dress Institute wasn't organi…

  • Evening gown with black velvet bodice from the 1940s

    Evening gown with black velvet bodice from the 1940s

    This woman's evening gown has a black velvet bodice with padded shoulders, long sleeves and a V-neck. The slightly flared red duvetyne skirt extends above the waist to meet the point of the V-neck. There is a side zipper and snaps at the wrists. Label: "Dovies, Detroit

  • Ballgown of creamy white satin with jewel neckline from the 1970s

    Ballgown of creamy white satin with jewel neckline from the 1970s

    This women's ballgown of creamy white satin has a fitted bodice with jewel neckline and long sleeves. The skirt is gathered at the waist, and has a side seam pocket. There are large rhinestones and silver beads at the neckline and cuffs. There is a back zipper closure. Label: "DESIGNED BY SARMI, NEW YORK," and "BONWIT TELLER." Worn by Mrs. Helen Milliken at 1970 and 1974 inaugural balls, her husband was the governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983. He had previously served as Michigan's Lieu…

  • Two piece dress from the nineteenth century

    Two piece dress from the nineteenth century

    This two piece dress may have been worn as a wedding gown or was part of a trousseau. It is made of gold-color silk satin, and the bodice is boned with deep points front and back. It has a laced center front closing with elbow length sleeves. The deep "U" neckline is filled with ecru lace and embroidered net, and has fringed ruching. There is lace around bottom of the bodice and at the sleeves. The bustle-back skirt has a very long train with irregular pleats. The front hem has pleated, up-…

  • Red damask evening gown from the 1950s

    Red damask evening gown from the 1950s

    One bright red damask, (diaper pattern), silk or cotton, floor-length, sleeveless woman's evening gown with a round neck has a princess line to slightly below the natural waist. The skirt is very full and deeply smocked at hip level fitting into the waistline with scallops. It has a back zipper. It has a matching stole with fringed edges and an organdy petticoat. Designed by Ruth Joyce.

  • Two piece evening gown made of white alaskin from the 1960s

    Two piece evening gown made of white alaskin from the 1960s

    Woman's two piece evening gown made of white alaskin. (A stiff, dull fabric, possibly part wool.) The bodice is tailored like a man's jacket or vest except that it has a high round neck. It is single breasted with four decorative buttons of white braid with a white drop bead in the center. The neckline and pocket flaps are also edged with rows of white braid and beads. The floor-length, straight skirt has two rows of braid and beads at the hem and an elaborate kick-pleat in the back. Both pi…