Adorn

ADORN means to DECORATE. One way we adorn ourselves is through the CLOTHING and JEWELRY that we WEAR. 

Around the world, people adorn themselves in different ways and for all sorts of special occasions. What do you wear for special occasions? How are those clothes different from the clothes you are wearing right now? How do you feel when you dress up in special clothes?

Here are some examples of clothing and jewelry that people from other times and places wore on special occasions.

A wide, T-shaped satin weave silk garment features dense floral embroidery in primarily warm orange-red, gold, and white. Vertical blue, yellow, and red stripes flank the central panel and sleeves. Large white panels at the sleeve ends are embroidered with birds and flowers, while scalloped white edging wraps the neckline. Gold characters are embroidered near the shoulders, and a layer of blue fabric is visible beneath the center.
Bride’s Robe, 1700s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). The Worcester R. Warner Collection, 1918.550

Wedding robes like this were communal garments, meaning they were shared and passed down through generations of brides. Do you have special clothes or jewelry that have been passed down in your family? When you wear something that belonged to someone else, how do you feel?

A pair of gold earrings features triangular frames of stacked, scalloped arches decorated with small gold spheres. Six cream pearls nestle within the arches. From the base, three pendants dangle with circular glass settings; central pendants feature a pearl above a teardrop emerald, while outer pendants terminate in large pearls. Simple gold wire hooks extend from a circular loop at the top of each earring.
Earrings, 600s. Byzantium. Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1947.178.a–b

These earrings were worn by a fashionable woman in the 600s in Byzantium. They are decorated with pearls, glass, and emeralds. Would you wear these earrings? Why or why not? Think about your own jewelry. What kinds of materials are they made of?

A polished steel suit of plate armor features a helmet with a narrow eye slit and circular perforations on one side. Large, asymmetrical plates flare upward at the shoulders, accented by brass rivets. The breastplate meets flared waist plates over a skirt of chainmail. The set includes matching leg pieces and a single gauntlet on the arm to our left, while the arm to our right remains incomplete at the forearm.
Tilting Suit (composed), c. 1560–80. South Germany. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1511

This armor was worn during jousting, a sport between two men holding lances, or spears, while battling on horseback. The armor helped protect the wearer from getting hurt. Today, we also wear objects that protect us while playing sports. What do you wear when you play your favorite sport? How is it similar or different to what a knight wore during jousts?

Glass beads in red, blue, and yellow encrust a tall, conical cloth crown. At the peak stands a beaded bird with a white quill beak, facing our right. Below, a stylized face with large white circular eyes and a raised nose sits atop geometric patterns of diamonds and triangles. From the circular base, long strands of multicolored beads hang down in a dense veil, reaching far below the structured headpiece.
Crown, 1900s. Guinea Coast, Nigeria, Yoruba. Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund, 1995.22

Found in Nigeria, this beaded crown was once worn by a Yoruba king during annual festivals and for other public ceremonies. On the very top of the crown is the Okin, or Yoruba “royal bird.” What do you see when you look at this crown? How do you adorn your head or hair for special occasions?

Take a look in the CMA’s Collection Online. Can you find more objects that people wore long ago? To get started, try different “key word” searches for types of clothing or accessories. How many different words can you think of?

 

Play Dress Up

Print out this page and cut out the pieces. Draw a face on your paper figure, then dress it up using the different objects from the collection. Which outfit is your favorite? How many combinations can you make? Try exploring the CMA’s Collection Online to find more clothing or accessories for your paper figure to wear.

Don’t have a printer? Make your own paper figure and create your own outfits using pencils or crayons.

Be a Designer

This plain T-shirt needs some decorations. How would you decorate it? Where would you wear it? Take a picture of your creation and share it using #CMAatHome.

Blank T-shirt

Extra Challenge 

Look through your closet and pick out your favorite outfits. Remember, you can include hats, jewelry, and shoes! Pick some music and take turns showing off your favorite outfits to your family. What makes those outfits special? Share with us using #CMAatHome.

 

Collection Connections: Adorn t-shirt template (blank) (386.61 KB PDF)

Collection Connections: Adorn paper doll cutouts (794.19 KB PDF)