Clothing & Accessories - Overview
Work, play, fashion, economic class, religious faith, even politics—all these aspects of American life and more are woven into clothing. The Museum cares for one of the nation's foremost collections of men's, women's, and children's garments and accessories—from wedding gowns and military uniforms to Halloween costumes and bathing suits.
The collections include work uniforms, academic gowns, clothing of presidents and first ladies, T-shirts bearing protest slogans, and a clean-room "bunny suit" from a manufacturer of computer microchips. Beyond garments, the collections encompass jewelry, handbags, hair dryers, dress forms, hatboxes, suitcases, salesmen's samples, and thousands of fashion prints, photographs, and original illustrations. The more than 30,000 artifacts here represent the changing appearance of Americans from the 1700s to the present day.
"Clothing & Accessories - Overview" showing 4 items.
Mourning Pendant
- Description
- A remembrance piece such as this brooch is representative of mourning jewelry worn during the early nineteenth century. Death rituals were an important part of family life, and they were marked by women wearing mourning clothes as well as mourning jewelry after an acceptable period of time during the extended mourning period. The weeping willow that is depicted in this scene was a popular mourning motif in the nineteenth century.
- This brooch dating from 1800-1820 is oval shape with an elaborate gold loop for hanging. Gold metal forms the border on the front with a central plaque painted with a mourning scene of a woman and child by a tomb, marked with the words "Rest in Peace." A weeping willow hangs over an urn that rests on top of the tomb. The plaque is covered with convex glass. The plain gold back is engraved with the initials "EMW" at the center. The brooch measures 3 ½ inches by 2 1/4 inches overall.
- This brooch was a favorite family piece of the donor's. The initials on the back of the piece were of an unknown ancestor.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1800-1820
- ID Number
- 1992.0302.1
- accession number
- 1992.0302
- catalog number
- 1992.0302.1
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Woman's Quaker Bonnet
- Description
- This bonnet from 1850-1874 is what a Quaker woman would have worn. Quaker bonnets were much plainer than the fashionable bonnets of the nineteenth century, with less adornment. They changed very little in style and shape making them difficult to date accurately. This bonnet with its quilted lining and skirt section would offer warmth to the wearer during inclement weather.
- This bonnet is constructed of dark navy blue velvet with a quilted maroon lining and curtain. The bonnet fastens with two black ribbon ties with a single long maroon ribbon attached to either side of the front edges. It measures 12 ½ inches high by 9 ½ inches wide by 12 inches deep.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1850-1874
- ID Number
- 1983.0805.04
- accession number
- 1983.0805
- catalog number
- 1983.0805.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Boy's School Cap
- Description
- This beanie style cap of blue and white cotton twill was worn by a lower grade school boy in the New York Public Schools. The "P.S. 49" logo stamped in blue ink at front center indicates "Public School" followed by the number to identify the school and area in which it was used. The crown is constructed of six white traingular sections coming together at a point with a blue twill covered button. A stiffened blue twill brim is attached at front. Overall it measures 3" high by 7 Inches wide by 8 5/8 inches deep.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1940-1950
- ID Number
- 1995.0019.012
- accession number
- 1995.0019
- catalog number
- 1995.0019.012
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Bride's Cap
- Description
- This bride's cap was worn by Mary Eloise Tasher when she married William T. Moore on June 1, 1929 in South Bend, Indiana. It is constructed of white lace decorated with pearls and wax orange blossoms. The wax orange blossoms on the cap are a symbol of fertility since no tree is more prolific, bearing fruit and blooming at the same time. The blossom which is white is also a symbol of innocence and chastity. The use of orange blossoms became popular in the early nineteenth century and continued well into the 1950s. When real orange blossoms were not available or were in short supply, wax replicas, as on this bride's cap, were used instead.
- The cap was worn with a white satin dress, with a tiered skirt edged with net, and white satin shoes as well as a brassiere and panties that are all part of the Smithsonian collections. The pink georgette mother of the bride dress, worn by Mrs. Charles A. Tasher, and the yellow crepe de chine and green silk taffeta bridesmaid dress, worn by Lucy Lucile Tasher, sister of the bride, are also in the collections.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1929
- used by
- Tasher, Mary Eloise
- ID Number
- CS*058341
- catalog number
- 058341
- accession number
- 205719
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center