Mantle 1895 - 1905

Editor: This textile piece, a Mantle made sometime between 1895 and 1905 by the House of Worth, it just speaks of old-world elegance. The color palette is simple, mostly cream and black, yet somehow regal. How do you interpret its visual language? Curator: This mantle speaks volumes about status and identity in the late 19th century. Consider the symbolism inherent in the choice of materials. Velvet, for example, wasn't just a fabric; it represented luxury, exclusivity, and a connection to aristocratic traditions. The creamy color, likely achieved with expensive dyes, hints at purity and refinement, key virtues in the Victorian era. What emotional effect do these choices of material evoke for you? Editor: It feels weighty, both physically and in terms of the expectations it puts on the wearer. There’s this push and pull between the almost monastic shape and the sumptuous fabrics. Curator: Precisely! The monastic shape may recall modesty and decorum, virtues prized in women of that time, but the velvet declares power. The high collar is intriguing. Does it suggest confinement, or perhaps protection? Think about how the wearer might have experienced such a garment. What societal narratives would they embody simply by putting it on? Editor: I guess the clothing isn’t just an object, but a symbol. Wearing that Mantle signifies you’re stepping into a particular story that has long been unfolding. Curator: Exactly! It’s a convergence of personal narrative and collective memory. We continue to embody narratives every day through our choice of dress; how do you feel you express yourself in that manner? Editor: It is definitely interesting to think how the language of the clothing back then still is in conversations about modern fashion. Curator: Indeed. Recognizing how the past echoes in the present allows us to be much more insightful about the images we see and how they help shape society.