• Bridesmaid Dress.

Department Store: A. F. Jammes (United States)

Design House: copy of House of Worth (French, 1858–1956)

Date: 1896

Bridesmaid Dress - A.F. Jammes (1896)

Finally a bridesmaid dress that actually deserves to be worn again. This dramatic and surprisingly simple dress from 1896 is a copy of a Worth design that was produced in the workrooms of the American department store A.F. Jammes. It is predominantly made of a cream colored plain weave silk. The sleeves, upper bodice and collar are all of a rich gold colored silk damask with a floral pattern. The only decorative device is the pair of slits in the bodice sides with gentle waters of the damask peaking through, that are edged with glass pearls. What a shame that no images of the wedding party survive to tell us what it all looked like. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.