Nothing embodied the resplendence of the Gilded Age like the opulent fashions worn by the women of elite society. As vast fortunes were built by men who dominated finance and industry, it was women who brokered power in the social arena. With their well-appointed wardrobes, they achieved social prominence by ensuring they were elegantly and appropriately dressed for every luncheon, reception, promenade, and ball. It was an era marked by an increasingly style-conscious public, shaped by the expanding fashion press that reported on both the couture houses of Paris’s Rue de la Paix and the department stores of New York’s Ladies’ Mile.
This volume offers a comprehensive look at women’s fashion in Gilded Age America—detailing everything from undergarments to accessories, in categories ranging from sportswear to mourning attire. Fashion historian Raissa Bretaña traces the evolution of the fashionable silhouette from 1870 to 1910, and delves into the cultural context and customs of etiquette surrounding dress during this dynamic period in American history. Fashion of the Gilded Age is richly illustrated with over three hundred images—including extant garments, fashion plates, paintings, and photographs—and is sure to delight anyone fascinated by the fashion, history, and extravagance of the Gilded Age.