Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1891
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with ferrous metal hooks and eyes, brass hooks and eyes, and unidentified boning
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 57 x 15in. (144.8 x 38.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1987.241.0
DescriptionWoman's evening or wedding dress of cream-colored silk crepe. The neckline is a wide V-shape. The bodice front overlaps diagonally, from the upper proper right to the lower left, with the edges trimmed with a double flounce of sheer chiffon from the center front neckline around to the right shoulder, down to the left hip and then continuing down the skirt. The edges of the chiffon flounce are scalloped and finished with cream-colored silk buttonhole stitches. The crepe fabric of the bodice is cut on the bias; it is draped across the bust and closely fitted around the narrow waist, emphasizing an hourglass figure. The sleeves are short and slightly gathered; a double flounce of the chiffon encircles the armholes. The neckline of the back of the bodice is a deep V-shape. The bodice is closely fitted by six pattern pieces across the back, and by three ten-inch-long darts on each side of the front. The bodice closes with locking hooks and eyes up from the center front waistline, then from the bustline it extends diagonally up to the right shoulder. The bodice drapery fastened over it by means no longer evident (probably hooks and eyes at the left hip which are now missing).
The crepe skirt fabric is draped up over the hips towards the center back, where it dips into a V shape at the base of the bodice and is gathered into a knot. Two diagonally pleated tails hang from the knot. Where the crepe is pulled up on the proper left side of the skirt, a panel of plain cream-colored silk taffeta is revealed. While the skirt for the most part is constructed separately from the bodice, the drapery that extends from the bodice is tacked to the skirt, and the skirt waistband is stitched to the back seams of the bodice lining, so that the dress is all one piece. The skirt fastens at the waistband with a hook and eye, separately from the bodice, over the left hip.
The bodice is lined with plain, cream-colored silk as is used for the base of the skirt. The seam edges are bound with matching silk tape. All seams are boned. A cream-colored silk/cotton ribbon petersham encircles the waist to hold the dress properly in position and to ease stress on the seams. The center back panel of the skirt is lined with tan cotton. A strip of elastic is encased through this panel about thirteen inches below the waistline; one end of the elastic has a metal hook, while the other end has a loop, so it could be fastened together in order to pull the skirt tight across the front and keep the fullness towards the back. The rest of the skirt is lined with cream-colored glazed cotton. Inside the hem is stitched a pleated ruffle of tan cotton, edged with machine-made lace. The hem is faced with a strip of pale tan velvet.
The crepe skirt fabric is draped up over the hips towards the center back, where it dips into a V shape at the base of the bodice and is gathered into a knot. Two diagonally pleated tails hang from the knot. Where the crepe is pulled up on the proper left side of the skirt, a panel of plain cream-colored silk taffeta is revealed. While the skirt for the most part is constructed separately from the bodice, the drapery that extends from the bodice is tacked to the skirt, and the skirt waistband is stitched to the back seams of the bodice lining, so that the dress is all one piece. The skirt fastens at the waistband with a hook and eye, separately from the bodice, over the left hip.
The bodice is lined with plain, cream-colored silk as is used for the base of the skirt. The seam edges are bound with matching silk tape. All seams are boned. A cream-colored silk/cotton ribbon petersham encircles the waist to hold the dress properly in position and to ease stress on the seams. The center back panel of the skirt is lined with tan cotton. A strip of elastic is encased through this panel about thirteen inches below the waistline; one end of the elastic has a metal hook, while the other end has a loop, so it could be fastened together in order to pull the skirt tight across the front and keep the fullness towards the back. The rest of the skirt is lined with cream-colored glazed cotton. Inside the hem is stitched a pleated ruffle of tan cotton, edged with machine-made lace. The hem is faced with a strip of pale tan velvet.
Status
Not on view
