A two-piece brown dress consisting of a separate bodice and skirt. The construction features suggest localized repairs and practical adaptations made over the lifetime of the garment.
The structural features of the dress indicate a focus on utility and modification. The use of mismatched buttons suggests ongoing maintenance, while the multiple vertical panels in the skirt point to efficient fabric usage or a structured, historical fullness. The unfinished hem may indicate a temporary alteration or that the dress was shortened or left incomplete.
Bodice: Features a front-button closure running vertically down the center. The closure consists of two distinct styles of buttons, indicating some may have been replaced over time during regular wear and maintenance. on the left side collar is a bow.
Skirt: Constructed from nine separate vertical fabric panels joined by nine seams around the circumference. The waist is secured by a functional, utilitarian beige/light brown sewn-in drawstring rather than a decorative waistband or sash.
Hem Condition: The bottom edge of the skirt is unhemmed and unstitched, resulting in a raw, fraying edge that exposes the weave of the textile fabric.
Clothing/Dress/Costume Details
Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume
Bodice, Skirt
Clothing Sex
Female
Textile Details
Fabric
Taffeta
Color
Brown
Made/Created
Date made
1878
Place
Location
Scotland
Dimensions
Dimension Notes
Bodice: 73.4cm L x 61.5cm W (40cm W at shoulders.
Skirt: 107.3cm L x 47.5 W at top, 153cm W at hem
