Something Old, Something New at the MFA Boston

 

Wedding Dress, Arnold Scaasi, 1989.

 

We went to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, recently and enjoyed the exhibit Something Old, Something New: Wedding Fashions and Traditions.  For once, I am blogging about an exhibit well before it ends - this display is on view through October, 2023.

From the exhibit introductory wall text:

...Drawing from the MFA's collection of costume, jewelry, and photography, this exhibition explores the origins of American wedding customs and looks at how they've evolved - and stayed the same - from before the Victorian era and beyond.

The central focus of the exhibit is, not surprisingly, the wedding dress.  

Complemented by white veils, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories, the wedding dress is the centerpiece of the ceremony and perhaps the most symbolic of Western nuptial traditions. While its perseverance is attributed to Queen Victoria's romanticized marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 in a gown that was "rich white satin trimmed with orange flower blossoms," many brides before her - especially from Christian communities - chose white to represent virginity, purity and femininity.  This choice was made centuries before by Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and other societies to symbolize wealth, status and power.  The romance and elegance of white silk, lace, tulle, and satin persists as the signifier of a perfect ceremonial gown.

Bridal gowns can often become family heirlooms, passed down through generations.  Nowadays, many modern brides seek dresses they can rewear and incorporate into their wardrobe.  In either case wedding gowns make a great case study for sustainable fashion as they rarely end up in landfills.  Perhaps due to an emotional connection to what the dress tends to represent - hope.  Do you still have your wedding dress or bridal ensemble?

Well, I don't have my ensemble (but still married), however I did have my daughter's wedding dress "preserved" by J. Scheer and Company, specialists in costume conservation.  

Wedding dress, American, 1889.

Wedding dress with leaf motif, English c. 1945.

Woman's bridal ensemble in two parts, Bob Mackie, 1980's.

Woman's wedding ensemble, Priscilla of Boston, c. 1986.

Detail, machine-made lace.

Wedding dress, Geoffrey Beene, 2002.

Wedding dress, Priscilla of Boston, 2011.

A word about Priscilla of Boston - this was a bridal boutique on Boston's fashionable Newbury Street until 2011. Learn more about Priscilla Comins Kidder at the Smithsonian archive.

In addition to the dress, of course, there are all the other wedding outfit accoutrements - undergarments, shoes, headpieces and veils, hosiery, and jewelry.  The MFA has a good collection of these artifacts too.  As someone who knits I was impressed by a pair of stockings from 1855, below. 

One of a pair of wedding stockings, American, 1855.

Wedding corset, made by Ann Priscilla Watson, 1839.

Although I didn't save my wedding dress, I do have an image of my cake topper, below. I used to have red hair, but, unlike the plastic bride figure, I still have both my arms.

Wedding cake topper, maker unknown, 1978.