Navy Blue Wool Gym Suit of M. Constance Wilson

VC9999001

Navy Blue Wool Gym Suit of M. Constance Wilson

Navy blue wool gymsuit; courtesy of Special Collections, Vassar College Library. Bodice: Navy blue wool (serge?); waistband of black cotton sateen; four rows of black wool braid on collar; three rows of black wool braid on cuffs; neckline and arms-eye finished with cotton sateen bias tape; four 3/8 inch black buttons on center front placate; 8 1/2 inch black buttons on waistband; 2 black metal hooks and bars on each cuff. Middy blouse; square sailor collar; 3 pleats in each shoulder; full front torso; puffed long sleeve; gathered into cuff at sleeve hem; 4 pleats in each side sewn into waistband; small box pleat at center back waist. Bloomers: Navy blue wool (serge?); dark green wool braiding at waist (4 horizontal lines) at intersection with 9 button holes; black cotton waist band; sateen and twill (under); 2 metallic snaps at right side seam and metal hook and bar; sateen at side seam opening (black); low (knee-length) crotch with diamond-shape crotch piece; 18 pleats at waist going in toward center seam; gathering at hem with unoriginal elastic; one box pleat wraps around side seam.

1905-1910

Clothing and dress

41 inches (chest), 25 inches (waist), 18.5 inches (center front length), 17 inches (center back length), other measurements: Across back shoulders: 13.5 inches

cotton

metal

plastic

wool

Physical Object

1900s

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

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VC9999001

navy blue

41

25

18.5

17

Across back shoulders: 13.5 inches

41 inches (chest), 25 inches (waist), 18.5 inches (center front length), 17 inches (center back length), other measurements: Across back shoulders: 13.5 inches

MC Wilson; M. Constance Wilson on laundry labels hand-stitched inside back waist button placate.

Mary Constance Wilson

Mary Constance Wilson

1905

1910

womenswear

costume

clothing

Sport

sports clothing

Vassar Girls and Other Women

The blouse and bloomers of this gymsuit represent one stage in the tradition of physical education for women which has existed since the very early davs of Vassar history. As early as 1867, as indicated on the last page of a letter to parents from Vassar's first Lady Principal, Miss Lyman, students were required to buy gymsuits for their required physical education. This later suit represents the transition toward greater freedom of movement as women increased their participation in a wider range of activities.

very good

Bodice: color has faded slightly from original color on inside button placate; hole on right front below bust level; small hole below right armpit; side and shoulder seams unfinished.

Special Collections

Vassar College, Archives and Special Collections

7gymsuit, c. 1908courtesy of Special Collections, Vassar College LibraryThe blouse and bloomers of this gymsuit represent one stage in the tradition of physical education for women which has existed since the very early davs of Vassar history. As early as 1867, as indicated on the last page of a letter to parents from Vassar's first Lady Principal, Miss Lyman, students were required to buy gymsuits for their required physical education. This later suit represents the transition toward greater freedom of movement as women increased their participation in a wider range of activities.

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bloomers