Fur coats, collars and hats have been hallmarks of luxurious winter fashion for hundreds of years. Fur traders were among the earliest explorers and settlers of this area. During most of the 19th and 20th centuries, many women considered a fur coat or stole to be the most desirable of Christmas gifts.
We have climbed into our deep closets and brought out a blizzard of luxurious winter furs. While styles, patterns and materials have danced in and out of fashion, a certain holiday whimsy abides in each garment. This winter, visit the Pink Palace Museum and compare furry fashion rages through the ages in DASHING! Furs and Winter Style on display now:
• A stunning red velvet dress worn by former Pink Palace employee Meredith Pritchartt during her debutante party in the 1950s. “I wore this dress to the Yale Junior Prom,” said Mrs. Pritchartt. “I had a lovely pair of red velvet shoes to wear with it, but they were stolen from me in college.”
• A stately men’s coat of soot-black wool, with a cozy collar of deep brown fur.
• A ball gown with a wintry white tulle skirt and white bodice, spangled with golden sequins, also owned by Mrs. Pritchartt. “This dress was for my debut, in 1954 or ’55,” she remembered. “After World War Two, money was being made in Memphis, the Cotton Carnival was really getting going, times were exciting. It was a great time to be young in Memphis.”
• A festive party outfit of pink silk trousers and a gold and silver blouse, snug under a fur jacket dyed a deep midnight navy blue.
• One Horse Open Sleigh: Joseph Wetter (1844-1927) used this single-horse sleigh when he was a young man in the 1860s and 70s. The style is typical of sleighs made in the mid to late 1800s. It has been restored and given new upholstery.
These and many other examples of festive holiday party wear can been seen in our new display DASHING! Furs and Winter Style, part of the Changing Roles of Women exhibit in the Pink Palace Mansion.
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