Every day in Florence brings new surprises. It should come as no shock, then, that our campus is home to a very famous history, and that the place that we spend most days of our week holds a unique and fascinating collection.
 |
| Source: http://cwp.fas.nyu.edu/object/cwp.ug.writersinflorence |
The tour of Villa La Pietra was stunning, but it seemed to go without saying that Mrs. Acton's dress collection was perhaps the crowning jewel of the entire estate. Steadfastly and meticulously maintained in the upper levels of La Pietra, Mrs. Acton's penchant for the rich and extravagant fashions of the time lives on even now, 100 years later. Her dresses were a picturesque example of the material we studied in class - exquisite gowns with fastidious details, whose worth would be apparent as much today as it was then.
 |
| Photo Credit: Samantha Erickson |
The Oriental detail of many of her gowns clearly presented her desire to stand apart, and it is no stretch of the imagination to see why she was considered a fashion trendsetter. Much like the collection of the Stibbert Museum, Hortense Acton had a taste that was both highly refined and seeking for something new and unique.
 |
| Photo Credit: Samantha Erickson |
It would appear, however, that no matter how far-searching Mrs. Acton was, she was not immune to her American heritage. One dress in particular was very distinctly in the 1920s flapper style, perhaps a nod to her wealthy past in Chicago. It was this specific dress, along with the collection as a whole, that gave the entire experience a very
Great Gatsby feel. The wealth, the money, the fashion - all of these things were essential to the image of Mrs. Acton, and they all live on as legend beyond her lifetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment