With the release of the Ford Model T in 1908, more Americans than ever had access to cars, and driving became both a sport and leisurely activity enjoyed by many. However, it could easily lead to soiled clothes and ruined hair. So, women started wearing special coats called dusters and other protective wear, such as goggles and hats. At times, these were matching sets, such as this duster and dress.
K-State Historic Costume & Textile Museum, Gift of Nancy Veale Galloway, 1985.16.23ab
Women in Action
“Women's duster and dress, c. 1910,” Keeping Up in Kansas: Women's Fashion in the 1910s, accessed July 18, 2023, https://ccrsdigitalprojects.com/womens-duster-and-dress-c-1910
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