Maine Memory Network

Adekaide Elder's basque dress with layered overdress, Portland, ca. 1872

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1872 Location: Portland Media: silk, cotton, wool

Iridescent shot silk crinoline dress, Farmington, ca. 1869

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1869 Location: Farmington Media: silk, cotton, baleen

Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical

Organized by themed vignettes, Northern Threads shares stories about Maine people, while exploring how the clothing they wore reveals social, economic, and environmental histories. This re-examination of Maine Historical Society's permanent collection is an opportunity to consider the relevance of historic clothing in museums, the ebb and flow of fashion styles, and the complexities of diverse representation spanning 200 years of collecting.

Dressing Up, Standing Out, Fitting In

Adorning oneself to look one's "best" has varied over time, gender, economic class, and by event. Adornments suggest one's sense of identity and one's intent to stand out or fit in.

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 2 of 4

"… fronted skirt flaring out at the back. An early 1870s short gray-green basque dress also features a flat front skirt, with an overdress creating a…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 3 of 4

"1880Maine Historical Society Between the mid-1870s and early 1880s, the bulky overskirt 'polonaise' styling gave way to the unusually slim…"