Tea for Two, Fashion, and Gardens: Hillwood Estate

Today my daughter and I made another lovely visit to the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Washington DC, for yet another fashion exhibit.

Recently opening on June 6, this time the fashions to be featured were of the homeowner of Hillwood Estate, Marjorie Merriweather Post, who lived from 1887 to 1973.

Sewing for her dolls when she was young, Post grew into an eye for couture as an adult that she fashionably wore as an entrepreneur, ambassador’s wife, and philanthropist.

While amassing a collectibles of historic proportions from France and Russia, she turned her Washington DC house into a museum for her collections from France, Russia, and couture.

FASHIONS DISPLAYED IN HER DRESSING ROOM

Making two previous visits, we are always charmed by the rotating displays in her dressing room closet, available around the year.

On our first visit to the Napoleon exhibit in May of 2012, we saw gowns featured from Napoleon: The Empire of Fashion.

During the Napoleon exhibit, these lovely 1925 Robe de Styles were discovered in her gorgeous dressing room closet.

1925 Robe de Styles displayed in Marjorie Meriweather Post's Closet at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

Then in December of that year we visited the exhibit of Pret a Papier, where historic gowns were amazingly recreated with paper, one of which was featured in her dressing room closet, inspired by Post’s own 1907 Callot Soeur’s gown.

Marjorie Meriweather Post's 1907 Callot Soeurs Gown in her Dressing Room Closet at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

PROFUSION OF SPRING AND SUMMER GOWNS

When I saw the announcement for Ingenue to Icon: 70 Years of Fashion from the Collection of Marjorie Merriweather Post, I knew it had to be amazing based on the little sneak peaks I’ve seen on previous visits.

On this summer day we oohed and aahed over Post’s spring and summer fashions in two different buildings.

While the Adirondack Building held a focused exhibit where photography was not allowed, (so sneak a peak here) her gorgeous house full of collections from France and Russia became the backdrop for more of her fashions.

On October 1, the spring and summer collection will switch to autumn and winter fashions.

DROOL-WORTHY GOWNS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE

Seeing more than the limited offerings commonly featured in Post’s dressing room closet, we saw a wider range of her fabulous gowns…hence Hillwood Estate’s catchphrase: where fabulous lives.

The loveliness of seeing Post’s gowns is that many of them are beautifully displayed on dress forms throughout the mansion, in the setting she would have worn them.

Displayed in the French Drawing Room, was this lovely 1903 gown that Post wore to a Naval Academy Ball.

Marjorie Meriweather Post's Evening Gown worn at Naval Academy Ball in 1903 displayed in the French Drawing Room at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

In the First Floor Library we found this flirty 1930s day dress.

Marjorie Meriweather Post's 1930 Day Dress in the First Floor Library at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

Two formal evening gowns from the early 1900’s were displayed in the formal dining room.

Marjorie Meriweather Posts 1912 Lingerie Dress displayed in the Dining Room at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

Love this 1912 Lingerie Dress…

1912 Afternoon Gown…

In the Second Floor Library we found this 1935 silk dressing robe…

Marjorie Meriweather Posts 1935 Dressing Gown displayed in the Second Floor Library at Hillwood Estate in Washington DC — *Hillwood Estate: Where Fabulous Lives*

In her dressing room closet are numerous drawers waiting to be opened se we can view gorgeous lingerie, like this corset cover and petticoat from 1905.