Dress
Name/Title
DressEntry/Object ID
G2005.118abDescription
2-piece dress made of ivory taffeta. Bodice (a) - points front and back. Boned. High round neckline. Bell sleeves. Trimmed with a pinked double ruff around the bust, shoulders, and sleeve edges. Side seams are let out and restitched by hand. 'Buttons' have a lacy surround composed of silk thread ‘feathers’ radiating from a tiny self button, secured to a tulle base. Suggests frost patterns. The bodice seems to fit a very small, but buxom, upper torso. Skirt (b) - pleated onto the waistband. Lined with thin white lining cambric. The second phase appears to have occurred in the late 19th century. The extended portion of the skirt was attached to what may be a late 19th-century twill tape band. The hem was turned up again to remove the trained effect. Perhaps the standing collar was done at that same time, indicating that the dress was recycled in the 90s. The top of the skirt was removed from the waistband at the center front, the pleats unpicked, expanded, and handsewn to a twill tape band in crude gathers; that seamline split or unpicked about a foot down; the standing collar added to the neckline [to conceal the loss of facing]. Button trims are extremely fragile. Deep side seams unpicked to the armscye and hand stitched with narrow allowance, to add girth to the waist. A bit of ivory damask was added for the facing.Collection
Bruce and Susan Greene Costume CollectionCategory
Adult, Female
Historic Costume
Clothing/Dress/Costume Details
Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume
DressClothing Sex
FemaleTextile Details
Fabric
TaffetaLining
Glazed CottonColor
IvoryMade/Created
Date made
1860 - 1863Ethnography
Culture/Tribe
American