New York, United States
c. 1912
LG-C-0006

Fashion at the turn of the twentieth century was influenced by the introduction of the s-bend corset, which created a soft, feminine outline. Evening gowns often had small, drooping sleeves with sashes and beading for embellishment. Made by Madame La Jotte, a dressmaker in New York City, this pink chiffon evening gown in the Locust Grove collection was worn by Annette Young to her brother Innis Young’s Junior Promenade at Harvard in 1913 and emphasizes the elegant high-waisted silhouette of the period. Many dresses from this period consisted of two layers: an underdress which was generally slim, and a more decorative and slightly fuller tunic overskirt layered on top. In Annette’s gown, the narrow satin underdress serves as an exquisite backdrop for the intricate beading and appliques of bows and flowers that border the bottom. The detail of the beaded butterfly hovering at the top of the cascading break in the fabric is particularly notable.