Skip to main contentDress | McCord Museum Online Collections | McCord Museum - Montreal Social History Museum 
Dress
Maker
Inconnu / Unknown
Marks or LabelsNone
Date
About 1912
Medium / Technique
Silk tulle, cotton sateen, silk flowers, silk piping
Dimensions99.8 cm (length); chest: 79.8 cm (circumference)
ClassificationPersonal Objects - Clothing - Main Garments
Origin
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, North America
Object NumberMMQ1993.18.05
CollectionMusée de la mode
CreditGift of the Estate of Winifred Leighton Birkett
NotesExhibition Costume Balls - Dressing Up History, 1870-1927
CONCEPTUAL COSTUMES
Conceptual costumes embodied a concept, object, natural phenomenon, or even games. Worn almost exclusively by women and girls, they were invariably based on dresses of fashionable style, with the addition of unusual and whimsical trims to convey the concept. They were very often at least partially homemade.
“Bluebell,” and “Violets,”
Flower impersonations were very popular for women and girls. The maker of the “Bluebell” costume has followed a set of common instructions for making any of a variety of flower costumes, almost to the letter. Both outfits came from the same little girl, Winifred Birkett of Montreal, who probably wore them around the ages of 8 and 12. No photographs of her wearing them survive.
CONCEPTUAL COSTUMES
Conceptual costumes embodied a concept, object, natural phenomenon, or even games. Worn almost exclusively by women and girls, they were invariably based on dresses of fashionable style, with the addition of unusual and whimsical trims to convey the concept. They were very often at least partially homemade.
“Bluebell,” and “Violets,”
Flower impersonations were very popular for women and girls. The maker of the “Bluebell” costume has followed a set of common instructions for making any of a variety of flower costumes, almost to the letter. Both outfits came from the same little girl, Winifred Birkett of Montreal, who probably wore them around the ages of 8 and 12. No photographs of her wearing them survive.
Status
On viewInformation about the objects in our collection is updated to reflect new research findings. If you have any information to share regarding this object, please email reference.mccord@mccord-stewart.ca.Information about rights and reproductions is available here.
This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation and Canadian Heritage.