Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire

There's nothing more chic than a funeral with elegant and well-dressed guests. So it's no wonder (and rather appropriate for this time of year) that on October 21, the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomes a most dark and fashionable exhibition, Death Becomes Her.

The exhibition showcases the evolution of funeral and mourning attire from 1815 to 1915, including gowns worn by Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Queen Alexandra.

“The predominantly black palette of mourning dramatizes the evolution of period silhouettes and the increasing absorbtion of fashion ideals into this most codified of etiquettes,” said Harold Koda, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute.

To me, missing Death Becomes Her would be a grave mistake. After all, you can cry at a funeral and still be fabulous at the same time... Why not? The exhibition is on view through February 1, 2015.

If you have to go through death, be sure to wear dark, be authentic, and most important, confident, and you'll be overhearing from your fellow mourners, “Did you see how marvelous she looks?”

Edited by Austin Modine

Mourning Ensemble, 1870-1872
Black silk crape, black mousseline
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Martha Woodward Weber, 1930 (2009.300.633a,b)

Veil, 1875
Black silk crape
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Roi White, 1984 (2009.300.633c)

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis

Mourning Dress, 1902-1904
Black silk crape, black chiffon, black taffeta
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The New York Historical Society, 1979; (1979.346.93b,c)
Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis

Evening Dress, ca. 1861
Black moiré silk, black jet, black lace
Lent by Roy Langford
(C.I.L.37.1a)
Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis

Mourning Dress (Detail), 1902-1904
Black silk crape, black chiffon, black taffeta
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The New York Historical Society, 1979; (1979.346.93b,c)
Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis

Henriette Favre (French)
Evening Dress, ca. 1902
Mauve silk tulle, sequins
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Miss Irene Lewisohn, 1937;
(C.I. 37.44.1)
Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis

The “Black Ascot,” 1910
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty Images

Evening Dress, 1902
Worn by Queen Alexandra (British, born Denmark, 1844–1925)
Black silk tulle, mauve silk chiffon, purple sequins
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Miss Irene Lewisohn, 1937
(C.I. 37.44.2a, b)
Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin L. Willis