Petticoat made of georgette trimmed with machine-made lace, possibly made in England or France, ca. 1927

Petticoat made of rose-pink georgette trimmed with ecru machine-made lace. The garment is knee length and straight cut except where scalloped insertions of coffee-coloured machine-made lace give additional fullness at the bust, and six panels are inserted in the skirt. With matching georgette shoulder straps. Hand-stitched.

This was worn by Emilie B. Grigsby (1876-1964) who was a wealthy independent American who came to England from New York. She established a salon which was frequented by writers and the military. She was considered to be one of the great international beauties, with extremely pale, almost transparent skin, violet eyes and red gold hair. She was frequently the subject of articles in the New York Times during the early 20th century. Her clothes were purchased from couturiers in London, Paris, and New York, and demonstrated an elegantly avant-garde approach to style.

T.181-1967