Maine Memory Network

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Twentieth Century

"Early Twentieth Century Embellished velvet and silk gown, ca. 1895Maine Historical Society Lewiston's Mary King Scrimgeour's small, but…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Active & Casual Wear

"Active & Casual Wear View the Active & Casual Wear Slide Show The growing and changing range of outdoor and indoor activities pursued by the…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Nineteenth Century

"Early Nineteenth Century Leavitt family coat-dress, Eastport, ca. 1830Maine Historical Society Some fashion changes are distinct and occur…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Outerwear 1830-1860

"Outerwear 1830-1860 Wide crinolines restricted outerwear to wraps, shawls, capes, and easy fitting garments such as a black and brown watered silk…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Fashions Far & Away

"Fashions Far & Away View the Fashions Far & Away Slide Show Imported garments and fabrics are an integral part of American fashion, and of the…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Outerwear 1900-1930

"Outerwear 1900-1930 Astrakhan collared cape, ca. 1903Maine Historical Society The domestic industry’s now prolific silk fabric production made…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Outerwear 1800-1830

"Outerwear 1800-1830 Examples of this period's outer garments include: a full length 1800-1810 unlined slim silk twill coat with a flat fold over…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1900-1910 - Page 1 of 3

"The alternate fashion, compatible with women's increasing participation in the workforce and outdoor activities, favored a more naturally curved…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1870-1890 - Page 1 of 4

"Sometimes a group of women clubbed together to make the purchase and share. On the one hand, machine sewing mitigating the endless hours women spent…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Eighteenth Century - Page 2 of 3

"By 1800 women's formal, stiff wide skirted cumbersome gowns had disappeared. In their stead was something totally different: simple high waisted…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1890-1900 - Page 3 of 3

"By this time, more women now worked outside the home. Positions such as store clerks, telephonists, office clerks, secretaries, and typists were…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1970-1980 - Page 2 of 3

"… sold at Felix Dress Shop, specializing in "women's wearing apparel," which operated in Portland at 16 Forest Ave for just over forty years."

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

"1888Maine Historical Society Women wore bustle supports of various shapes and sizes. Some were separate items such as half cage crinolines, tied on…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1850-1870 - Page 1 of 4

"For many women, a silk dress was an investment, a best dress for Sunday, or for special occasions. Looked after, often stored away as they moved past…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1850-1870 - Page 4 of 4

"… dresses in Claude Monet’s 1866-67 painting titled Women in the Garden. Another white organdie, a ball dress, with short frill sleeves, boat neck…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1910-1920 - Page 1 of 2

"… surviving examples, it appears that stylish women everywhere in Maine, from those in the blueberry territory of downeast Cherryfield, to southern…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1930-1940 - Page 2 of 4

"Jessie Franklin Turner was one of the many women who, from the beginnings of the American fashion industry in the 1920s, found opportunities in…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1930-1940 - Page 4 of 4

"… the same styling, chosen by two very different women, from two different walks of life, demonstrate the democratic, equalizing nature of modern…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1950-1960 - Page 3 of 4

"Of course many women still wore older styles, one of which is a very wearable lightweight gray/green rayon crepe, with small yellow printed flowers…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1850-1870 - Page 3 of 4

"As a result, women could walk unencumbered by the layers of heavy petticoats, with their legs free under the cage."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1910-1920 - Page 2 of 2

"… wider, shorter skirts and peplum jackets worn by women in uniform or engaged in war work exerted influence on civilian fashion."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1920-1930 - Page 1 of 3

"Women with even the most modest pocket books could afford dainty silk-like rayon underwear and nightdresses, as seen in Sears catalogues."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1800-1830 - Page 2 of 2

"1800-1830 Gown with leaf motif, ca. 1825Maine Historical Society As of 2020, the MHS collection includes no examples of 1820s colored cotton…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1800-1830 - Page 1 of 2

"1800-1830 Lucia Wadsworth's "assembly dress," Portland, ca. 1799Maine Historical Society Slender cotton gown, Buckfield, ca."