LUCILE Wedding Dress, Chicago, ca. 1915
Extraordinary wedding dress, ca. 1915. Label: Lucile * 1400 Lake Shore Lane * Chicago. Lucile was the fashion label of Lady Duff Gordon (more on that later). Lady Duff Gordon opened a fashion salon in Chicago in 1915 (it closed in 1921). It was the fourth fashion salon she ran under her fashion name after London, Paris and New York. This wedding dress dates from those early days. It is a two-piece, consisting of the dress and a three-meter train. The wedding shoes were included with the dress. Very likely they were worn to the wedding. The dress is made of cream silk satin. There is lace and tulle in the bust and sleeve area, as well as in the underdress. Typical flared hips for a dress of this period. Back closure with snaps, hooks and eyes. The long train is attached to the shoulders by means of hooks. It was probably worn in church and at the photographer's. Very well preserved. The dress has subtle signs of age and wear (the very few stains are much lighter in reality than in the photos), underarm stains (on the outside) and missing spots on the inside in the underarm area. The decoration is not included. Museum piece. Dresses with this label are only in large fashion museums. When you get to the market, they reach exorbitant prices.
Lucy Christina, as the world-class designer was called by her first name, was born in London. She married for the first time in 1884, but already divorced in 1893. The marriage was unhappy, although she had a daughter at the time. Lucy needed a way to support herself and her daughter, and started her own tailoring business. Originally based in her home, she opened Maison Lucile in the West End in 1893. She focused on draped, layered garments, often in pastel colors with floral accents. Lucy's designs were popular with society tastemakers; actresses, celebrities, and aristocrats were often seen wearing her designs. In 1900, Lucy remarried, to Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon (a Scottish baronet, landowner, and sportsman). She and her husband were among the most prominent survivors of the Titanic sinking. The Duff-Gordons, along with Lucy's personal assistant, sailed on the Titanic to expand the US business of Lucile Ltd (founded in 1903). The entire fashion collection that traveled with them was lost when the Titanic sank. Lucy Duff-Gordon died in London in 1935. Her fashion, however, has survived the test of time. Today, her dresses are among the most sought-after and rare pieces in the history of fashion.
Bust: ~ 90 cm
Waist: ~ 73 cm
Length: ~ 140 cm
Length Train: ~ 300 cm
