Maine Memory Network

Historic Clothing Collection - 1920-1930 - Page 1 of 3

"Women with even the most modest pocket books could afford dainty silk-like rayon underwear and nightdresses, as seen in Sears catalogues."

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

"While at present there are no examples of such uniforms in the collection, Ruth True's afternoon suit demonstrates the influence."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1960-1970 - Page 1 of 3

"… tie dyed T-shirts, message T-shirts, pants for women, cheap flowing Indian print skirts and caftans, exotic ethnic garments collected on trips to…"

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 - Eighteenth Century - Page 3 of 3

"Even in such far flung places as Maine (then thinly inhabited), the financially comfortable genteel members of its small and scattered communities…"

Historic Clothing Collection - The Maine Historical Society Historic Dress Collection - Page 2 of 2

"This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, MA-30-18-0288-18."

Historic Clothing Collection - Site Overview

"By design, this site is interpretive in nature and not a comprehensive digital display of all items within the MHS historic dress collection."

Historic Clothing Collection - Plum skirt suit with cape, ca. 1945 - Page 1 of 3

"The three-piece suit includes a skirt, blazer, and cape. The skirt has three wide stitched pleats in the front and back and fastens with a side…"

Historic Clothing Collection - The Maine Historical Society Historic Dress Collection - Page 1 of 2

"Initially specializing in clothing from the early to mid-nineteenth century, the collection was added to by an extensive acquisition of late…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 1 of 3

"… in outerwear modeled by Hollywood celebrities in late 1942 and 1943 is found in the four-piece ensemble comprised of a coordinated yellow blouse…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1930-1940 - Page 1 of 4

"Other daytime ensembles in the collection include a plain yellow-beige, slim faile rayon mid-calf dress with brown polka-dot spotted fabric trimming…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1830-1850 - Page 2 of 3

"… and readily available, yet they are scarcely in evidence in this section of the current collection."

Historic Clothing Collection - Arcy Cary Bradford's gigot sleeve wedding dress, ca. 1829 - Page 1 of 2

"This particular dress represents the trend in its early years, before the sleeve size reached its peak."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 2 of 3

"In this vein, there are two American examples in the collection. One is a V neck navy blue cocktail dress with trumpet wrist sleeves and a skirt…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Nineteenth Century

"In fashion, decade demarcations are basically imprecise, nevertheless, for convenience, the Early Nineteenth Century fashions in this overview are…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Sally Holmes's evening gown, ca. 1824 - Page 1 of 2

"… Sally Holmes of Alfred wore this evening gown in Washington, DC during James Monroe's administration from 1817-1825 when her husband, John Holmes…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Wrappers, Teagowns & At Home Dresses

"… versions such as the first three listed in this slide show, were perhaps worn in the relaxed privacy of a ladies sitting room when entertaining a…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Twentieth Century

"In 1904, Mandel's Department Store in New York advertised a high quality fashionable ready-made suit priced at $25.00 (approximately $700.00 in the…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1890-1900 - Page 1 of 3

"… stores, including Peck's in Lewiston, Libby's in Portland, and in small town dry-goods stores. Reasonably priced plain skirts, jackets, and blouses…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Active & Casual Wear

"This assortment is a representation of the types of casual or active wear items to be found in the overall Maine Historical Society collection."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 3 of 3

"Two suits in the MHS collection may be late 1940s possibly early 1950s interpretations of the new "pencil" skirt suit."

Historic Clothing Collection - Square shouldered cape and suit ensemble, ca. 1943 - Page 1 of 3

"Born in Iowa, Lucile lived in Tokyo, London, and New York before settling in New Jersey. An author, she traveled and lectured extensively on East…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 3 of 4

"Some 1880s basques (seen in some of the collection's wedding dresses) are long, but not as long as the example just described, and sweep back over…"

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

"… for her brother, Henry Wadsworth, who was killed in naval action with Corsairs at Tripoli in September 1804."