Medium: Brown cotton sateen, cotton floss, soutache cord, and tape

Date: c.1913

Country: USA

Credit: Gift of Lady Arlene Kieta

After 1880, women began regularly wearing suits during the day. Feminine high fashion ensembles mimicked masculine dress in that women's suits were often made of dark or lighter neutral-colored woolens and were accompanied by crisp white shirts; however, their jackets were matched with skirts in the popular styles instead of men's trousers. Ladies' suits frequently were ornamented with arrow-braided trimmings, or soutache, in colors that either matched or strongly contrasted with the ground fabric. The use of soutache referenced the military uniform - yet another male form of dress.

Object Number: 2001.58.1