This image is of my grandmother, Catherine Fanning Donahue, on her wedding day in May of 1957. I never met her– Catherine passed away in 1976 when my father was 16. The designer of the gown she wore for her wedding is unknown, but according to my grandfather, the dress is a clear reflection of who my grandmother was. The ultra femininity in the design of her gown reflects her kind, soft personality, while also exemplifying popular design of the 1950s. The large skirt with a tight waist and sleeved bodice parallel the definition of a woman in the mid 1950s. I chose this photo mainly for the sentimentality it holds. It’s a peculiar feeling to know so little about someone in your own bloodline; when I was growing up, this image is what I used to imagine who my grandmother was. I’ve been contacting family members to find out more about this dress, to see if it still exists. I’m really interested in writing about this image because I’ve been meaning to investigate my family history. As a designer, dresses have always been my favorite garment to make. Just writing this small passage now is inspiring me immensely– so many thoughts about my grandmother and her dressing practices are flooding my mind. Based on who she is and who I am, this image intrigues me greatly. Regardless of if I can write my paper on this image, I will definitely be looking into the history of this dress and my grandmother.

This image is of my great grandmother, my mother’s grandmother. This photo was taken on her wedding day in May, 1934. The long, slimming dress is a classic look of the 1930s. The image as a whole is very telling of the time it was taken based on the quality of the photo, the background, and what my great grandparents are wearing. This dress is in a closet back home; I thought this might be an interesting piece to write about because I have it available to examine. The dress, as well as my great grandfather’s suit, are extremely telling of the time period. I met my great grandmother when I was very young, but she passed away when I was two. From what I’ve heard, she was a diva. Born in Quebec, she had a chic french edge to everything she did. I find this image inspiring because it informs me a lot about my family history, and also because I love the dress. Now that I’m taking fashion history, I appreciate so much more that I own a dress from the 1930s. My great grandfather’s suit is also interesting to me, but my personal design preferences have always gravitated towards womenswear. The memory and emotion associated with this dress inspire me a lot, and to write a paper about this image would be super fun for me.