Fancy dress costume 1888 - 1898

The House of Worth created this pink fancy dress costume, though its exact date is unknown. During Worth’s time, fashion was intricately linked to social status and self-representation. This piece speaks volumes about the wearer's identity and position within society. Clothing, especially haute couture, can be seen as a visual code of social standing. The dress, with its elaborate design and luxurious materials, embodies the opulence of its era. It reflects the influence of historical events, such as the Industrial Revolution, which enabled mass production, yet also the persistence of older forms of aristocratic culture that valued handmade goods and bespoke tailoring. The design would have been influenced by the elite social circles that Worth catered to. As historians, we explore archival records, fashion plates, and social commentaries to understand such artifacts. By doing so, we decode the cultural values embedded in fashion. This dress, therefore, is more than a piece of fabric, it's a mirror reflecting the social dynamics of its time.