Garment Overview

Women’s shift dress of black silk with red silk crepe accents and metal buttons. The dress ends at the knee with alternating black and red bands of fabric at the bottom hem creating the impression of a three-tiered skirt. The dress features long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, embellished with alternating bands of black and red fabric running along the length of the wrist. The front of the dress has an attached faux-jacket opening trimmed in rows of buttons leading to a rounded v-neckline and band collar that closes with attached red crepe bands. The drop waist is accented with an attached belt of black silk crepe with bow closure. Rounded patch pockets embellished with buttons are placed across hips. The garment is unlined, and some red silk is shattering.

Designer unknown (American), ca. 1925
Anonymous donation to theTexas Fashion Collection, College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas

Interested in checking out this garment?

Host a garment in your classroom by contacting the Onstead Institute at onstead@unt.edu or 940-565-3954 for more information. Garments are available to K-12 teachers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Items are located at the Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.

1920s Dress Lessons

Lesson 3.1 Fashion Illustration and Photography

The lesson engages in an analysis of a 1920s garment and introduces context on the ways fashion was presented at the time. The activity asks students to recognize the relationship between illustration and photography to communicate mood, fashion, and artistic concepts.

Lesson 3.2 Setting and Environment

Using the garment as a starting point, the lesson engages students in contextual research of the time period to develop a character sketch and set design/environment for the character. This can be assigned as an individual or group project.

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