Maine Memory Network

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Twentieth Century

"… a sophisticated social life, and afford fine dressmaking to go with it. The family moved from Ontario, Canada, to Lewiston in 1885."

Historic Clothing Collection - Fabric Adaptive Reuse

"… with the custom of either themselves or their dressmakers altering and updating existing garments to keep up with constantly changing fashion."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1910-1920 - Page 1 of 2

"… fashionable dresses are examples of superior dressmaking. For workmanship and style, they rank among the highlights of the collection."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1920-1930 - Page 2 of 3

"Corseting and clever dressmaking helped shape or conceal natural contours. For example, Helen Little Hamm's tan chiffon dress, with an uneven…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical Society - Page 3 of 3

"Designed by Boston dressmaker W.H. Bigelow, the garment is trimmed throughout with colorful hand-embroidered floral sprays, and chenille bobble…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 1 of 4

"… War, sewing machines reached the professional dressmaking and home sewing market. They were expensive."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 4 of 4

"… the 1880s and 1890s are tributes to remarkable dressmaking skills. In the late 1880s, the bustle simplified in shape and disappeared by 1890."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1830-1850 - Page 3 of 3

"… and long straight sleeves contrasts with a finely dressmaker-made putty colored silk dress from the McMahon family of Falmouth."

Historic Clothing Collection - Mid to Late Nineteenth Century

"Women still relied on dressmakers for the most fashionable garments and made simpler versions at home."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1970-1980 - Page 3 of 3

"The expertly dressmaker-made ensemble is labelled: "Martha Mclean, Portland." At present, this is the collection’s only example of the famous…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Children's Wear

"Children's Wear View the Children's Clothing Slide Show For the second half of the 19th century children’s fashions mirrored adult styles."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1800-1830 - Page 2 of 2

"1800-1830 Gown with leaf motif, ca. 1825Maine Historical Society As of 2020, the MHS collection includes no examples of 1820s colored cotton…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1800-1830 - Page 1 of 2

"1800-1830 Lucia Wadsworth's "assembly dress," Portland, ca. 1799Maine Historical Society Slender cotton gown, Buckfield, ca."

Historic Clothing Collection - Wrappers, Teagowns & At Home Dresses

"Wrappers, Teagowns & At Home Dresses View the Wrappers, Tea Gowns & At Home Dresses Slide Show Wrapper is the traditional term used for the…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Mourning Clothing

"Mourning Clothing View the Mourning Clothing Slide Show With the growth of the middle class, the custom of wearing black during periods of…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Mid Twentieth Century

"Mid Twentieth Century Nylon dress with red accents, ca. 1955Maine Historical Society There is little in the collection to tell of the War…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1900-1910 - Page 2 of 3

"1900-1910 Sarah E. Thomas' silk foulard dress, ca.1905Maine Historical Society Many fashionable silk dresses from this period deteriorate…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1900-1910 - Page 3 of 3

"1900-1910 Margaret A. McGuire's wedding dress, Portland, 1909Maine Historical Society Detail of McGuire wedding dress X Gold…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1900-1910 - Page 1 of 3

"1900-1910 Ella May Clark's three-piece dress, Yarmouth, ca. 1901Maine Historical Society Of early 1900s contrasting fashions, one was defined…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Eighteenth Century - Page 2 of 3

"Eighteenth Century Bright pink petticoat, ca. 1780Maine Historical Society A quilted petticoat of bright pink calamanco (polished wool) with…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Eighteenth Century - Page 3 of 3

"Eighteenth Century During this period male dress also underwent change. A combination of the eighteenth century English taste for clothes suited to…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Eighteenth Century - Page 1 of 3

"Eighteenth Century Revolutionary-era styled gownMaine Historical Society As of the year 2020, the earliest garments in the MHS collection…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Themed Image Galleries

"Themed Image Galleries Queen City Flying Club Jacket, ca. 1930 Organizational Uniforms Image GalleryMaine Historical Society The greater part…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1910-1920 - Page 2 of 2

"1910-1920 Ester McDonald's dinner dress, ca. 1910Maine Historical Society Two lace dresses, one black and one white, provide further examples…"