Unknown Designer

Buffalo, like the rest of the nation, experienced industrial growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 1890s were known as “The Gilded Age” for the era’s exponential growth in industry and technology. Buffalo’s prime location along the canal expanded its economic success into the retail and textile industries, making high-end fashion more widely accessible. The city’s upper echelon often signaled wealth through custom garments. Some traveled to Parisian couture houses like the House of Worth or Jacques Doucet for their wardrobes, while others frequented successful local dressmakers and shops. This promenade dress, made of high-quality fabrics and lace, would have been worn during the day while visiting friends or acquaintances. Influenced by a revival of 1830s romantic fashions, the sleeves peaked in volume mid-decade, reflecting the era's social extravagance. It is believed that this ensemble was worn by the donor’s wife’s grandmother, a member of a prominent family.

Arlesa Shephard, Ph.D.

Curator, FTT Historic Costume and Textile Collection, Fashion and Textile Technology Department, SUNY Buffalo State

(Photo courtesy of Legacy House Studio)