Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
A. C. C.
(French)
Date1877-1880
MediumHand-stitched and machine-stitched silk and cotton, with baleen boning, wire, metal hooks and eyes, and machine-made bobbin-type lace
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width across shoulders): 59 1/2 x 15in. (151.1 x 38.1cm)
Other (center front length): 51in. (129.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1986.230.0
DescriptionWoman's day dress of tan silk, contrasted with silk striped in shades of brown, cream, and pale green (some of the brown stripes and the green stripes are velvet-woven). The dress bodice is constructed in a double-breasted style, with deep revers of the striped silk. It fastens with hooks and thread-covered eyes; originally, there were buttons in a double line down the front, following the double-breasted styling. The revers forms a V-shaped neckline, which is edged with bobbin-type lace. The three-quarter-length sleeves are cut with an upper and lower seam like a coat sleeve and end in wired cuffs of the striped silk over a pleated ruffle of the tan silk and lace.
The dress is designed like a man's cutaway coat over the skirt. The front of the skirt has appliqued stripes in graduated lengths of the contrasting silk extending down from the waistline. Lengths of the striped silk and the tan silk are gathered like an X, meeting in a bow at the bottom front of the skirt. (The center of the bow is missing.) Below this, the skirt is flounced with the tan silk. The center back of the skirt has a large bow of the striped silk below two flaps of the striped silk set into the seams. The skirt originally had decorative buttons stitched alongside these seams. The skirt fullness is released into the train below the bow.
The dress is lined with cream-colored silk and, in the skirt, with stiff white cotton. A sheer cotton ruffle trimmed with lace is stitched inside the skirt hem. All of the bodice seams are boned. There is a moire ribbon petersham which hooks around the waist.
The dress is designed like a man's cutaway coat over the skirt. The front of the skirt has appliqued stripes in graduated lengths of the contrasting silk extending down from the waistline. Lengths of the striped silk and the tan silk are gathered like an X, meeting in a bow at the bottom front of the skirt. (The center of the bow is missing.) Below this, the skirt is flounced with the tan silk. The center back of the skirt has a large bow of the striped silk below two flaps of the striped silk set into the seams. The skirt originally had decorative buttons stitched alongside these seams. The skirt fullness is released into the train below the bow.
The dress is lined with cream-colored silk and, in the skirt, with stiff white cotton. A sheer cotton ruffle trimmed with lace is stitched inside the skirt hem. All of the bodice seams are boned. There is a moire ribbon petersham which hooks around the waist.
Status
Not on view
