Overview

For ninety years, young society women in San Antonio, Texas have donned custom-designed dresses and trains to take part in the Coronation of a queen and her court. These royal robes, which weigh fifty pounds and more and cost an average of USD18,000, are highly embellished with rhinestones and beads. The Coronation is part of the ten-day, century-old festival celebrating the final battle of the 1836 Texas revolt against Mexico. This book provides a significant contribution to the study of social elites in Western society through a material culture analysis of the Coronation costumes worn by the Euro-American debutantes. Set against the backdrop of a city undergoing many demographic, socioeconomic, and political changes, the themes of Coronation pageants represent the mythologized ethnic and class history which reinforces the hierarchical positioning of its participants. The royal robes serve as the canvas upon which this theme is carried out. The Coronation, held in a city with a Hispanic majority, has come under attack for its elitism, but participation in it is still important for the old Euro-American aristocracy and for a very few extremely wealthy Hispanic families. Integral to the continuation of this increasingly contested tradition is the emotional appeal that wearing these intricately decorated gowns holds for participants.

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9781859739341

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Reviews

'Haynes' histories of San Antonio, the relationship between Anglos and the predominant Mexican population, and the growth of Fiesta into a ten-day-long celebration with over 150 events are informative as well as entertaining. Her research will please the social scientist and general reader, along with those with special interest in the fabric artistry of pageant clothing for debutantes.' Texas Review of Books 'An excellent analysis ... An accessible and enjoyable read, students and instructors of culture studies will find this study helpful for its multi-faceted approach to the subject.' Material Culture Shortlisted for the Katherine Briggs Folklore Book Award 1999 'Dressing up Debutantes is an excellent analysis of an event that almost everyone outside of Texas is unaware of ... An accessible and enjoyable read, students and instructors of culture studies will find this study helpful for its multi-faceted approach to the subject.' Material Culture 'I recommend this book to those who study the social meanings of dress. It is well researched, clearly written and beautifully illustrated.' The Annual Journal of the Costume Society of America

Author Information

Michaele Thurgood Haynes The Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas

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