Wedding Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Madame Varney
(American)
Dateabout 1894
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk, cotton, and wool/cotton, with unidentified boning (probably baleen), brass hooks and eyes, a non-ferrous metal buckle, faux pearls, and elastic
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center front length x width between shoulders): 59 x 11 3/4in. (149.9 x 29.8cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the New Hampshire Historical Society
Object number1967.94.0
DescriptionWoman's formal dress, probably for a wedding, of cream-colored silk satin. The bodice has a V-shaped neckline and a dipped waistline. It is draped with netting embroidered with faux pearls and clear glass beads on each side, the right side swagging over to the left across the center front opening, but currently with no means of fastening. The three-quarter-length sleeves are full at the top, being pleated into the armscye, which is at the natural shoulderline. The front side of each sleeve is gathered into the underarm seam at the inside of the elbow, while the back side of the sleeve has a single pleat at this point. The back of the bodice is cut continuously with the back of the skirt.
The skirt is fitted smoothly all around the body, with a few pleats taken for ease. The narrow waistband fastens with two large hooks and eyes at the center back, under the pleated center back panel which is cut as a continuation of the bodice back. The skirt is covered with netting embroidered with faux pearls of graduated diameter, worked in diamond shapes formed by parallel V's, with a large faux pearl at the top. The border around the bottom of the skirt is worked with similar, though larger, diamond shapes within zigzag stripes worked with clear beads and edged with small faux pearls. The skirt has long train, measuring 48 inches beyond the front hem edge.
The bodice is closely fitted with two 8 1/2-inch-long darts on each side of the front, while the back is cut with eight pattern pieces. All darts and seams are boned. The center front opening fastens with hooks and eyes; the eyes are covered with buttonhole stitching. The direction of several hooks are reversed in the area of the waist for extra stability. An extra tab of satin has been stitched at the waistline, with eyes, but no corresponding hooks; this is not an original treatment, as it is coarsely stitched in place. A satin ribbon petersham is mounted at the inside back to fasten around the waist to ease strain on seams and keep the bodice in place. The bodice is lined with cream-colored cotton sateen. All seam allowances are bound with silk ribbon.
The skirt is lined with plain-woven cotton; the train is lined with twill-woven silk. The hem is interlined with canvas, with the edge covered in gathered satin. The inside of the hem has a pleated ruffle of machine-made lace. The fullness of the back of the skirt is controlled with two strips of elastic stitched across the inside.
The skirt is fitted smoothly all around the body, with a few pleats taken for ease. The narrow waistband fastens with two large hooks and eyes at the center back, under the pleated center back panel which is cut as a continuation of the bodice back. The skirt is covered with netting embroidered with faux pearls of graduated diameter, worked in diamond shapes formed by parallel V's, with a large faux pearl at the top. The border around the bottom of the skirt is worked with similar, though larger, diamond shapes within zigzag stripes worked with clear beads and edged with small faux pearls. The skirt has long train, measuring 48 inches beyond the front hem edge.
The bodice is closely fitted with two 8 1/2-inch-long darts on each side of the front, while the back is cut with eight pattern pieces. All darts and seams are boned. The center front opening fastens with hooks and eyes; the eyes are covered with buttonhole stitching. The direction of several hooks are reversed in the area of the waist for extra stability. An extra tab of satin has been stitched at the waistline, with eyes, but no corresponding hooks; this is not an original treatment, as it is coarsely stitched in place. A satin ribbon petersham is mounted at the inside back to fasten around the waist to ease strain on seams and keep the bodice in place. The bodice is lined with cream-colored cotton sateen. All seam allowances are bound with silk ribbon.
The skirt is lined with plain-woven cotton; the train is lined with twill-woven silk. The hem is interlined with canvas, with the edge covered in gathered satin. The inside of the hem has a pleated ruffle of machine-made lace. The fullness of the back of the skirt is controlled with two strips of elastic stitched across the inside.
Status
Not on view
