8. 1935 Wedding Dress of Henrietta S. Robinson

ID#: VC2005002
Date: 1935
Creator: Bridal Creations (veil), Gude's (shoes)
Region: California
Culture: American
Materials: silk crepe, lace, metal and pearl buckle
Label reads: 'Gude's' (shoes)

This wedding dress was worn by Henrietta Shankman, the mother of Ken Robinson (Vassar College Professor of Film), for her wedding on March 10, 1935 to Nathan Irving Robinson. The dress is an example of the sleek, feminine fashions of the time—a form fitting, bias cut dress with a belt to emphasize the natural waistline and floral lace detailing on the chest, neck, back and sleeves.

While women’s fashion of the 1920s was often androgynous and daring, with the Great Depression in the 1930s came a dramatic change to women’s wear. A romanticized image of the woman’s shape, inspired by Hollywood glamour, became the signature 1930s look. Most evening dresses placed an emphasis on the natural waistline, had a longer skirt length, and were made of a light crepe or silk cut on the bias.

- Bailey Strauss (Vassar class of 2014)