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Necklace, acc. no. 17.71.1
Exhibitions

Wedding Belles

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Exquisite gowns and other wedding apparel reveal how three generations of Post family women celebrated weddings with their legendary elegance and style. From turn-of-the-century Edwardian bride to Upper East Side doyenne, Hillwood founder Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887–1973) asserted her status, taste, and sophistication in the styles she wore down the aisle. Now, Wedding Belles brings together her four wedding gowns, along with those of her mother and daughters, and examines the evolution of early 20th century wedding style through the lens of one of America’s most notable and fashionable families. Drawn mainly from the extensive costume collection left by Post to Hillwood, the exhibition also includes her daughters’ flower girl and bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride dresses worn by Post and her mother, an historic veil on loan to the exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution, and a show-stopping jewel-encrusted Cartier bag. Archival photography, correspondence, and ephemera further illustrate the tradition, romance, and elegance that informed the renowned family’s nuptials.

 

 

 

Free with suggested donation