#circa 1880

submitted by @starliteradio ❤️💚

via connecticut museum of culture and history

The Vanderbilt Ball of 1883 was hosted by Alva Vanderbilt, synonymously known as Alva Belmont. Married into the Vanderbilt family, she strived to keep the Vanderbilt name prestigious. In the early 1880s, a social rivalry between the Astors and the Vanderbilts became prominent among the wealthy. Caroline Astor controlled the exclusive “400” circle, if your name wasn’t on the list, you weren’t welcome. The Vanderbilts had newly acquired wealth, gained by a massive railroad empire. Caroline Astor, was not impressed. The feud was a divide between new money and old money. The Astor family’s wealth was passed through generations and their social status was built over time. This was the root of the issues between the families. Alva Vanderbilt built a mansion on Fifth Avenue and threw a “house warming party”. It was an extravagant costume ball, a calculated social power move. Alva invited 1,000 of New York’s most wealthy and influential citizens, excluding Caroline Astor’s daughter. In a time where an invitation equaled importance. Naturally, this upset Carrie Astor which prompted Caroline to ask Alva for an invitation, therefore, flipping the power dynamic and the Vanderbilts were now socially accepted. This was one of the most significant family feuds in history. After time, social status began to die down and Alva began focusing on bigger things such as fighting for female suffrage. ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Watercolour of Witley Court with the gardens (1880) by William Andrews Nesfield.

From my personal collection

La Mode Illustrée, Journal de la Famille, 1882

Photo Alfredo Ducasble.

Also, the back of this dress! Those pleats give me the vapors. From LACMA.