Edith Bolling Wilson, 1915-1921

Edith Wilson’s Evening Dress
Gift of National Trust for Historic Preservation

Black charmeuse satin dress trimmed with beads, black velvet, and white net, from the House of Worth in Paris. The first lady wore the dress in 1915 for a private dinner party at the White House.

A well-dressed woman, Edith Wilson gave careful thought to the clothes she purchased. Her fashionable wardrobe included gowns from the House of Worth in Paris. Newspapers reported the first lady’s preference for black dresses and simple lines.

Courtesy of Library of Congress