Walking Costume
ca. 1917 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The large green and white silk label in the neck of the jacket of this ensemble tells us it was made by Lucile Ltd of Hanover Square, London. Lucile was born Lucy Sutherland in 1863. She began dressmaking for friends, and in 1891 opened her own fashion house. She married Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon in 1900. Lady Duff Gordon became a celebrated fashion designer with branches in New York (1909), Chicago (1911) and Paris (1911).
This brown silk tailored costume was worn by Heather Firbank (1888-1954), daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. In 1960 the Museum acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Miss Firbank patronised many of the top London fashion houses of the period, and a large amount of her clothes were purchased from Lucile whose shop on Hanover sq was just around the corner from the Firbank's Mayfair apartment. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the Museum in 1960: 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.
This brown silk tailored costume was worn by Heather Firbank (1888-1954), daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. In 1960 the Museum acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Miss Firbank patronised many of the top London fashion houses of the period, and a large amount of her clothes were purchased from Lucile whose shop on Hanover sq was just around the corner from the Firbank's Mayfair apartment. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the Museum in 1960: 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Twilled silk and wool, boned |
| Brief description | Twilled silk and wool jacket and skirt, made by Lucile, London, ca. 1917 |
| Physical description | Light brown twilled silk and wool costume consisting of a three-quarter length jacket and skirt. The jacket has a double-breasted belt cut as one with the skirt of the jacket (a separate piece to the upper part of the body), and with inset pocket flaps. It has deep set sleeves which taper to the wrist, and a shawl collar. Mid-calf skirt with floating panels attached at the hem and waist seam, front and back, and a hip yoke with buttons and narrow belt. Boned petersham waistband. The jacket has a label |
| Production type | Haute couture |
| Summary | The large green and white silk label in the neck of the jacket of this ensemble tells us it was made by Lucile Ltd of Hanover Square, London. Lucile was born Lucy Sutherland in 1863. She began dressmaking for friends, and in 1891 opened her own fashion house. She married Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon in 1900. Lady Duff Gordon became a celebrated fashion designer with branches in New York (1909), Chicago (1911) and Paris (1911). This brown silk tailored costume was worn by Heather Firbank (1888-1954), daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. In 1960 the Museum acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Miss Firbank patronised many of the top London fashion houses of the period, and a large amount of her clothes were purchased from Lucile whose shop on Hanover sq was just around the corner from the Firbank's Mayfair apartment. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the Museum in 1960: 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.41&A-1960 |
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| Record created | September 10, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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