Also! Miuccia Prada's work is featured in the new, eagerly anticipated film version of The Great Gatsby (2013). Prada worked with Catherine Martin, the film's costume designer, to create costumes based on garments from Miu Miu and Prada's archives. Have you seen the film?? What do you think of the costumes? Here's a look at some of the costumes: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/01/21/prada-great-gatsby-costumes-revealed---baz-luhrmann-film

So interesting that you all have the same Gernreich garment! Museums are prohibited from providing appraisals and/or valuations of objects, so unfortunately we can't offer any guidance as to the value of this dress.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on this post! It’s wonderful to see that our readers have such passionate feelings about fashion and fashion history. Menswear, particularly formal wear, does consist of highly specific categories. Our curators have chosen to define this ensemble as a "tuxedo" because this is a generally accepted term used to describe men’s formal dress. As many of you have pointed out, the strictly accurate term would be a "tail suit" or a "dress suit." We’ve chosen not to update the post so that readers can form their own opinions about this fascinating terminology debate.

The V&A is great! They have a lot of wonderful info on their site; I particularly like the bibliographies/reading lists they provide.

Yes! The Merci Train or Gratitude Train dolls are currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though they aren't on display, there are great photos online: http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections?ft=gratitude+train. The Met catalog records also include a brief history of the dolls, and their connection to the Theatre de la Mode. The Merci Train dolls date from 1949, and are constructed like the Theatre dolls. Instead of portraying contemporary 1947 fashions, they describe the evolution of French fashion history. Fascinating! Wouldn't it be great to see both collections on exhibit together?!?

It really is! Definitely worth the trip if you're ever in this NW corner of the United States.

It really is a treasure! If you can't make it to the Maryhill, you might enjoy the book "Théâtre de la Mode, Fashion Dolls: The Survivial of Haute Couture." by Edmond Charles-Roux, et al. It's available online, or at the Maryhill Museum. It gives a more comprehensive history of the collection, and pictures all of the surviving dolls.

I can understand your hesitation to use this bag! They're lovely objects...good luck in your quest for another Judith Leiber bag.

Hi Daniel, It is fascinating a glimpse into the past, isn't it? All the other objects found with the bonnet, which included garment and accessories worn by Sarah and her mother, reside in two private collections. We were not party to the original discovery of these objects, so we don't have any more information than what is published here. Grouped together, these objects would make a fascinating topic for a small exhibition or publication.