A personal history of twentieth-century fashion and taste through the dressing room and jewelry vault of one of the most stylish women of her time.

This publication positions Hillwood’s remarkable collection—countless garments, jewels, and accessories from the late nineteenth century through the 1960s—within the broader story of American fashion, textile design, and decorative-arts culture. Raised in the Gilded Age, Post (1887–1973) developed a refined eye for handmade laces, intricate embroidery, custom dressmaking, and the tactile luxury of finely wrought textiles. She saved silk flowers, lace motifs, and decorative trims—small but powerful records of the artistry she admired. Her extensive holdings of linens, embroideries, and antique laces reflect an unwavering respect for textile heritage.

Offering fresh insight into the makers and materials represented in the collection, essays uncover links to such 1930s Parisian couture houses as Paquin and Marcel Rochas; examine the New York–Paris design pipeline that shaped twentieth-century style; and spotlight the work of immigrant, women-led ateliers whose craftsmanship helped define American fashion.

As today’s consumers confront the impact of fast fashion, Post’s thoughtful approach to dressing—and her commitment to restyling, reviving, and rewearing items from her wardrobe—offers a timely model of sustainability, connoisseurship, and enduring style.

About The Author

Megan J. Martinelli is the curator of texttiles, apparel, jewelry, and accessories at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Marjorie Merriweather Post’s former residence in Washington, DC. Kate Markert is the executive director of Hillwood.