Designed by
Lowe, Ann, American, 1898 - 1981
Worn by
Trevor, Florance Colgate Rumbough, American, 1927 - 2008
Date
1951
Medium
silk satin, lace, gauze, buckram, tulle, and metal fasteners
Dimensions
H x W (flat): 83 × 60 in. (210.8 × 152.4 cm)
Description
Ivory silk satin and lace wedding dress designed by Ann Lowe and worn by Florance Colgate Rumbough Trevor. The dress has a sweetheart neckline with off-the shoulder puff sleeves. The bodice is fitted to the natural waist, and then extends into a full floor-length skirt with long train at the back. The neck opening is trimmed in ivory floral lace, with one layer extending above the silk satin top edge. The tops of the shoulders are made from the lace trim, with the puff sleeves below made from the ivory satin. The center front bodice is embellished with the ivory floral lace, which extends down the center in a triangle, ending just below the waistline in a point. Three-dimensional decorations made from flowers fussy cut from the floral lace are tacked on top of the lace and left to flutter with the breeze. The center front panel of the skirt has seven (7) tiers of ivory floral lace sewn on top of the satin, with the bottom edges left unsewn. Each front side of the skirt has an extra panel of the silk satin sewn at the side seam and extending to the front side, partially covering the edges of the lace tiers and ending at the bottom with rounded corners. These flaps are lightly tacked in places and are self-lined. Two strips made from the satin are sewn in a geometric design on each back side of the skirt near the floor for tying up the train. The dress closes at the center back with a zipper and three (3) hooks into thread loops at the top where the lace extends above the satin.
The dress is not lined except for the center back panel of the skirt, which is lined in stiff off-white gauze. The bottom of the skirt, except the center front panel with the lace tiers, is trimmed in plastic buckram covered with ruffled off-white tulle. Wire is sewn into the lace around the tops of the shoulders to keep it in place and provide structure. There is a white fabric label with black embroidered text sewn at the interior proper left back side that reads "ANN LOWE / A. F. Chantilly, Inc. / NEW YORK" with a woman wearing a ball gown at the right side of the label.
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
wedding dresses
Topic
Clothing and dress
Design
Fashion
Fashion design
Marriage customs and rites
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Florance Rumbough Trevor
Object number
2014.73.1.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53f39c08f-3a78-4516-85df-241e590d6c9d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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