What you might have worn on the Titanic

It is the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Titanic. 

When I first started my online vintage clothing business, the latest buzzword was Titanic, because of the blockbuster movie. Everyone wanted the look in authentic vintage clothing, and I can understand that—it’s splendid. The silhouette is straight and tall, the waist is raised, the embellishments are intricate and ornate. Orientalism was a modern trend, and actually, so was modernism. Here are items from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection dated from the time. Please see many more on my Pinterest board Fashions of 1912. 

Vogue Cover - March 1912  by George Wolfe Plank (condenaststore.com)

Evening dress, 1910-14 Callot Soeurs

Detail of Callot Soeurs gown

Evening purse, 1910-20, unlabeled French

Evening dress, 1911-15, Jeanne Hallée

Hat, ca. 1912, “L.P. Hollander & Co/Fifth Ave. at 46th St/New York”

Evening coat, 1910-15, Liberty of London, Textile by Arthur Silver

Evening dress, 1911-13, Mrs. Osborn Company (American)

The avant garde on the Titanic might have worn a design by Paul Poiret, the most modern of moderns, and the greatest proponent of Orientalism.

Evening dress, 1912, Paul Poiret

If you were yourself a designer, you might have worn your own creation, as surely did Lady Duff Gordon, professionally known as Lucile. She was a survivor of the Titanic.

Evening dress, ca. 1912 Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon)