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Lasell University
Lasell University

Fashion and Satire

Fashion and Satire: The Drawings of Orson Byron Lowell and Charles Dana Gibson
Rosecliff Mansion, Newport, RI
January 2017-May 2017
The Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
September 2017-October 2017
Made possible by Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf

Fashion and Satire

This exhibition pairs an original collection of over 50 satirical illustrations with Gilded Age costumes and accessories. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, New York City was both the center for expressive art and the optimal place to observe social life. Satirical illustrators like Lowell and Gibson captured urban, upper class society for popular magazines of the day, enabling the public to view and emulate modern changes in style.

"Fashion and Satire celebrates the significance of cooperative learning and the value of professional partnerships.  Together, students and industry professionals engage in creative exploration beyond the normal college course, proof that teaching and learning can transcend classroom walls." -Jill Carey, Professor and Curator of the Lasell Fashion Collection

Click below to see more about each item!

Men's Pure Worsted Wool Swimsuit Wool One Piece Swimsuit Woman's Cotton Bathing Suit
Silk Georgette Dress Silk Satin Wedding Dress Ivory Silk Evening Dress
Silk Chiffon Dress Silk Lace and Chiffon Evening Dress Cotton Boucle Day Dress
Two-Piece Cotton Dress Silk Crepe Dress Cotton Blouse and Wool Skirt
Cotton Child's Dress Linen Slug Coat Wool Smoking Jacket
Men's Overcoat Tuxedo Graduation Robe
Hats Men's Ivory Jacquard Muffler Muff, Sheared Beaver
Walking Sticks Hand Painted Silk and Wood Fan Wool Felt Spats
Leather Shoes

Production Team:

  • Jill Carey, Professor and Curator of The Lasell Fashion Collection, designed and constructed the collaborative project in association with four Fashion Retail and Merchandising seniors: Dana Blanchette '17, Hillary M. Brown '17, Erin Lovett '17 and Victoria Sferrazza '17
  • The Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection Publishing Team
  • Ashley Householder, Curator of Rosecliff Mansion, The Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, RI
  • The former American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA
  • Richard Bereson, past President and Curator of The Society of Illustrators, New York, NY

Student Impact 

Victoria Sferrazza '17  "This project developed my skills with working in groups with students and professionals and was the biggest for of Connected Learning I experienced at Lasell.  The entire experience of creating the book and collection changed my academic and professional words.  I experienced the editing process involved in writing a book, learned how to photograph garments, even got to dress a mannequin in a bridal gown from 1910!"

Hillary M. Brown '17  "Through this project, I was able to develop my research and analytical skills more deeply than I would have been able to in a regular classroom course.  I was part of a team on a longterm project that had professional weight.  Learning to express my opinion in a professional setting was invaluable.  We were able to use skills we'd developed in our classes in a real-world setting to create a museum exhibition and a published book."

Erin Lovett '17  "My skills in research, critical thinking, writing, communication and professionalism have all been challenged and greatly improved by this intensive project.  In addition to contributing to my academic development, the project enhanced my professional development and prepared me for my future career."

Dana Blanchette '17  "The collaborative nature of the Fashion and Satire project provided a unique and inspiring relationship between students, faculty and professional partnerships.  I've grown in my research, writing, observational, communication and professional skills.  For three years, original ideas and opinions were valued, respected and critiques in order to establish a worthy body of evidence."