Medium: Painted linen cutwork, silk chiffon and cotton

Date: 1904

Country: France (possibly)

Credit: Gift of Mabelle Karagheusian

Women's fashions remained richly decorous into the early 20th century but became increasingly sensual, as seen in this Art Nouveau "Iris" gown. The S-shaped corset, the soft, lingerie-inspired fabrics, and the decadently organic floral motifs replaced three-dimensional crinolines, heavy silks, and trimmings that were popular decades earlier. This gown also demonstrated the then strong connection between fashion, fine art, and other fields of design, such as architecture.

Object Number: 69.205.7