Afternoon dress
1867
White cotton piqué and black cotton cording
Museum purchase
Object numberP90.22.2
Black cording is worked into a stylized variation of the "Austrian knot" on this white piqué afternoon dress. Commonly worn by military officers, the Austrian knot was an applied design of twisted cord or braid used to embellish their uniforms. Here, the interlaced cord work accentuates the skirt's fullness, which is at the back of the dress, and the military motif has been incorporated into a scrolling geometric pattern, creating a contrasting border design characteristic of the period. A similar dress can be seen depicted in Claude Monet's painting Women in the Garden (1866).
DescriptionThree-piece dress in white cotton piqué with contrast scrollwork border trim in olive cord (faded from black); cutaway jacket with bell sleeves and curved hem; fitted, boned sleeveless bodice with black lace ball buttons and pointed front waist; full pleated skirt; afternoon dressCollections
Exhibitions