11. Tiaras Required: Jewels Of The Gilded Age
The wives of robber barons may have been disdainful of their husbands’ consorting with prostitutes or their lack of rights in the public sphere, but they sure knew how to ornament themselves in style. And these men, who had money coming out of their ears, surely weren’t going to let their wives walk around looking shabby. Women would literally walk up and down the area of New York City that was known as “Millionaire’s Row” wearing millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry.
Companies like Tiffany and Co. and Marcus and Co. made brooches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other pieces of jewelry that were ornamented with rubies, garnets, diamonds, gold, and other expensive gems. They would complement the ostentatious bustle-style gowns, usually made with at least gold thread and jewels sewn into them, and hats with snowy egret feathers.
In fact, at the famous 1883 Vanderbilt Costume Ball, Mrs. Vanderbilt wore a dress that was designed with so much gold and silver that it was made to look as if it was composed of electric lights. What’s more, the curators of all this finery could afford to be so exclusive that people had to travel to Paris or other overseas locations in order to obtain their services.