Basic Black

Black Satin Dress
1912-1918
Gift of Mrs. C. E. McCory

After 1911, narrow, high-waisted tubular skirts with stiffly boned waistbands became popular. For the first time, since 1820, no artificial figure enhancers were used (bustles, hoops, etc). Instead, dresses had feminine lines and materials accenting the natural figure. Most dresses of the period had 47 fasteners, such as hooks and eyes, which started from the neck to the shoulder, then diagonally across the front or down the side.