A Passion for Fashion: London and Paris Style in Albany (1740-1870)

The images that follow show a life style of wealth and opulance, grace and elegance that could be found in the Adirondack region of New York State in the early and mid 19th century. In addition to it's own social register of wealthy families, the Adirondacks and the city of Saratoga Springs lured well-to-do socialites from New York City and was a popular honeymoon spot for the rich and newly married.

The society woman of New York's 19th century would arrive in Saratoga Springs with several "Saratoga trunks". Ellen Demorest, the publisher of Patterns and Fashion Advice, a fashion trend magazine of the time, estimated that more than 40 gowns, priced from $40 to $2500, were needed to sustain a bride through a New York season. She observed that fashionable New York women did little but "doff and don dry goods".

The dresses shown here were special orders from the dress makers of Paris and London. One was made from Spitalfields Silks, by a renown weaver named Anna Marie Garthwaite (1690-1763) in the early 18th century. These silks were made in very limited quantities, usually only 4 pieces, each about 50 yards in length, of any one pattern. The patterns were never duplicated.

The exhibit was the subject of a feature in the April 4, 1996 issue of Metroland, a weekly alternative newspaper published in the Capital Region. The article was written by Susan Mehalick. The photographs used here, however, are my own.

According to Ms. Mehalick's piece, the Institute will be publshing a catalog highlighting it's art collections. These dresses, which will appear in the catalog, have been extensively researched by textiles consultants Natalie Rothstein of London and JoAnne Olian of New York City, the atricle said. The catalog is expected to be available sometime in 1997

The dresses are part of the Institute's permanent decorative arts collection.

Enter the exhibit.

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