Wedding Dress, 1895

Silk satin and cotton lace

Raudnitz, Paris

Gift of Mrs. Theodore P. Grosvenor     1968.c.797.A-B

The last model to go out on the runway in a fashion presentation usually wears a bridal dress. Brides often save these elaborate dresses which as a result form a substantial part of many museum fashion collections. This wedding dress was worn by Miss Anita Berwind on her wedding day November 6, 1895 to Robert Early Strawbridge of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. During the previous summer, the couple traveled through Europe, where they had their wedding clothes made. In October of 1895 the Town Topics section of the local newspaper reported, "There are marvelous stories afloat anent the extent and beauty of the trousseau purchased by the bride-elect. At the Country Club Mr. Strawbridge appeared in some of the latest London creations suitable to the occasion and I am told that his hymeneal outfit is almost as elaborate as his bride’s."

In accordance with Miss Berwind’s position in society, this wedding dress is made in the most fashionable style, the exaggerated one-piece leg-o-mutton sleeve was at its peak in 1895. The duchess lace collar is a combination of machine and hand-made laces. The original ivory color of the dress has not changed in more than a century.  

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