Other 20th Century Dresses

This dress was worn by Margaret Bartels in 1947 in Chicago to dinner dances in the period after World War II when big bands were popular. It is made of rayon, a new material then, and is fully lined. It features a rhinestone "necklace" at the princess collar. Since rayon is a man-made material it keeps very well and is not subject to the stresses of natural fibers. It shows no signs of wear, despite its age. The openings at the neckline, while not revealing, hint of an era of new equality for women after their service during the war years. Could this be the reason women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers a few years later?

This beautiful full length beaver coat is from the late 1940's and shows no signs of wear. It was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Hanauer of Dayton, OH.

This lamb's wool coat features a fur collar. It was a gift to Mrs. Elizabeth Hanauer from her husband. The family lived at that time in Ohio but moved to southern Missouri later. Mr. Hanauer's daughter-in-law Kay Hanauer of Oakland City donated several pieces of her clothing. The black dress at the right could have been worn with this fur jacket. The A-line taffeta skirt has a matching belt. The bodice features 3/4 length sleeves and round neck trimmed in rhinestones. It is from the late 1950's or early 1960's.

These three black dresses from the late 1950's or early 1960's show the popularity of the "little black dress". Each has features which cannot be discerned in this image; tucks, embroidered flowers and "nubby" textile surface. Each basic black dress had its own particular style, making it special.

Pink created a splash of color at the gathering when these dresses were worn in the 1960's. The white shift features pink beading and the pink dress on the right is knit in a herringbone style with silver metalic thread. Shifts like these were popular during the Kennedy White House years.