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Evening dress The John Shillito Co., Cincinnati ca. 1896 This gown has all the features characteristic of the end of the nineteenth century: leg-of-mutton sleeves, an S-shaped silhouette achieved with a tightly corseted bodice, a wide skirt, pastel colors, and elaborate trimmings of lace, beads and velvet ribbon. The "demitoilette," with its enclosed neckline and covered upper arms, was appropriate for evening gatherings that did not include dancing. Ball gowns, as opposed to evening dresses, were generally décolleté, with a low neckline and bare shoulders. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence M. Williams Worn by Eunice Swift Johnson, grandmother of Mrs. Williams LSM #1972.011.22a-b Permalink |