Fashion houses provided sketches to clients interested in purchasing garments from the designer's line of couture clothing. These sketches contained an image of a gown, dress or other apparel, illustrating the designer's stylistic vision. Fabric samples were usually included. Clients could then decide which design to purchase and suggest personal changes. This sketch was sent to Elizabeth Parke Firestone, wife of tire magnate Harvey S. Firestone, Jr.

Elizabeth Parke Firestone, wife of tire magnate Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., cultivated a refined sense of fashion through years of interest in clothing design and collaboration with world-renowned couturiers. Correspondence with the Paris design house of Christian Dior reveals Firestone's strong opinions about color and material, awareness of what suited her figure, and desire for a distinctive wardrobe.