It appears that the torso and lower reaches of the dress are silk satin, possibly a charmeuse, and the middle area appears to be a cotton batiste. Elegant, but apparently summer weight, perfect for a wedding. The lines are also much simpler than prevailed 20 years earlier, with far less lace and such.

Yes, she is well corseted in stays, probably quite long and tight. However, in 1909 they thought the current fashions were liberated from the Victorian (V died in 1901) wasp waist. Her mother would have been several inches smaller at this age, say 20 years earlier in 1889. Yes she is liberated by her standards. Just because we find the corsets tight and stiff (actually they are ok if you think yourself into the character, I've done it in theater), we should not judge history by our standards.

The photographer also (presumably) defocused for a more flattering "soft" effect on the young lady's face. Notice how razor-sharp the focus is on the nearer portions of her gown?

All the comments about teen fashions and teen culture are thoughtful and perceptive. Yet I'm moved to wonder if there was such a thing as teen fashion or culture in 1909, and kinda think not. The notion of a separate youth culture with its own fashions didn't much enter the popular American imagination until the college crazes of the 1920s. It appears that this carefully retouched society portrait of Miss Winship was meant to illustrate her impending wedding to stock broker Alexander Crawford, and her stunning gown, glittering with crystal beads and seed pearls, was very much expressing the prevailing fashion tastes of wealthy adults.

to be described as "wild and out of control". There are certainly some in my generation who can be described that way, but then again, there are in every generation. On the question of a change in parenting, however, I agree wholeheartedly. There is a gigantic (tremendous, humongous) difference between the way my grandfather and I were raised. He walked in the front door of high school and out the back (Right into the CCC) and I have spent the last four years slaving away to get into college. (Where I will undoubtedly work another four years to get into graduate school)

Thank you Catherine!!! At last a person that realizes that today youth are a product of how they were raised. It's a cycle of learned behaviors, this generation learned how to act by watching the adults of the nineties just like the adults of the nineties learned how to act watching the adults of the eighties and so on and so forth. The youth of today didn't just get rained down from the heavens wild and out of control...they were raised that way.

Teens probably have changed very little at a basic level--I'm sure they've always been somewhat self-absorbed and certain of their infallibility. But I'd say the parenting of them has changed a lot, and not for the better, which results in a big difference in how they behave and present themselves. (A fact which many of the older posters on here sometimes forget when lamenting the horribleness of today's youth. Depending on their age, either they or their children are the ones who dropped the parenting ball!)

I'd agree somewhat with the clothing situation though. Modern teenage girls just spend more time figuring out how to strategically reveal skin and putting on ten pounds of eyeliner rather than dressing in corsets and layers of silk. Teenage girls will probably always be preoccupied with their appearance -- comes with the territory!

Teen styles of today are just as pretentious as those of 1910 - and those of my teen years, as well.

Although Miss Winship is approximately 22 here, this is close enough for my 17 years to be of some relevance. It seems to me that teens have changed less than the times; styles are simply not as elegant and ostentatious. (Some might say pretentious.) There is less emphasis today on being a knockout every day at school. (Plus the amount of time we tend have to get ready in the morning is très courte.) Teens still do dress to impress, but no longer in this manner for the most part. (Prom is the closest we get.) I myself, however, am a slightly different story. Some people can still pull off a silk top hat with their tux.

...can be quite comfortable. I wear them occasionally for the stage, and I have to say they're FAR less painful than a daily hour at the gym!

I'm envisioning this gown in coral, seafoam green or soft gold. It must have been exquisite, no matter what color.

The lighting is true Rembrandt lighting. The key light (or main light) is on her left. The darker side of her face has a triangle below the eye. This is true Rembrandt lighting. Catchlights in the eyes give her life. Beautiful model and great job with the camera of the day.

[Harris & Ewing also created pseudo-highlights by scratching the emulsion with a pen nib or wire, which gave a stippled effect. Click below to enlarge. - Dave]

Miss Easterday and Miss Frishmuth -- like something out of "Life With Father." Those really were the days.

By the time Alex unwrapped his bride from her corseted layers, the honeymoon may have been over.

If the happy, stubby-fingered couple maintained their "temporary" residence at the Bellevue-Statford Hotel for 67 years, they might have fallen prey to the Legionnaire's Disease that made that hotel infamous.

Edith G. Winship, the daughter of Henry C Winship (not John as reported in following article) was born Dec 1887 (source: 1900 census). Henry C. Winship, a native of Washington, and prominent coal dealer, died in 1903.

---

Miss Edith Winship, daughter of the late John Winship, was married Wednesday afternoon at her home, 1688 Thirty-first street, northwest, to Alexander L. Crawford, of 4033 Spruce street, Philadelphia.

The ceremony was performed at noon, Wilson Woelpper, of Philadelphia, a brother-in-law of the bride, acting as best man. The bridesmaids were Margaret Winship, the bride's sister; Miss Easterday, of this city, and Miss Frishmuth of Philadelphia. The honeymoon will be spent at Old Point Comfort, and Mr. and Mrs. Crawford will make their home temporarily at the Bellevue-Stragford, in Philadelphia.

Miss Winship became acquainted with Mr. Crawford last summer in Gloucester, Mass. Mr. Crawford is 23 years old, and is the youngest member of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. He is a graduate of the university of Pennsylvania and a member of the firm George D. Atlee Co., stock brokers of Philadelphia.

Washington Post, Apr 9, 1909

Stubby fingers.

I know corsets must have been horrible to wear (especially in the summer--I can't even imagine!), but I have to admit--even Spanx cannot do this. There was a reason that the corset endured for so long!

Wow, this is the photographic equivalent of an oil portrait by John Singer Sargent, no less! If ever you want to know what people mean when they say ladies used to have "deportment," then look no further than this marvellous picture!

(Had a look at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org just now and came up with a Edna G. Winship of Chicago, born 15 Jan. 1890, died Chicago May 1982. This must be her in the photo as the ages fit date-wise - i.e. 18 going on 19 in 1909.)

[This is Washington, D.C., and Miss Edith Winship. She lived at 1688 31st Street N.W., where she and Alexander L. Crawford of Philadelphia were married in April 1909. - Dave]

I can imagine gunbattles erupting and wars being fought over a woman like this.

And this self-possessed, poised, and lovely young woman is perhaps all of 18 or 19 years old.

Teens have changed!

Can you imagine giving up your seat in the lifeboat for the lovely Miss Winship? I can.

How on earth did they clean gowns like this?

Miss Winsome.

Any more at home like you, sweetie?

This stunning young lady is perfectly coifed and corseted, certainly ready to be presented to society if, indeed, she has not already been. Her gorgeous dress, her lively expression, her relaxed pose -- they take my breath away. I would kill for that dress -- and the figure to slide into it. Sigh.....

At least no dog comments coming on this one!

Wow, she's cute.