Girl's Dress

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Margaret Miller (American, 1874 - 1965)

Dateabout 1875-1880

MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with dyed tagua nut buttons

DimensionsBodice (length x width between shoulders): 20 x 12 1/2in. (50.8 x 31.8cm) Skirt (length x hem circumference): 19 x 57 1/2in. (48.3 x 146.1cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Elisha H. Cooper

Object number1957.49.16a,b

DescriptionGirl's two-piece dress, consisting of a jacket bodice (.a) and skirt (.b) of brown silk taffeta. The jacket bodice is flared and has a high, round neckline finished with a narrow self-fabric band. The proper right side of the center front opening, continuing along the bottom edge, has a self-fabric ruffle, pleated in sequence, headed by a bias-cut, self-fabric band. There are also two self-fabric bows with fringed ends on the right side of the bodice opening. The opening fastens with five dyed tagua nut ("vegetable ivory") buttons, which are hidden. The two-piece sleeves are set smoothly into the piped armscye. The shoulderline is dropped. There is a patch pocket decorated with a self-fabric bow on the proper left side. The bodice is lined with tan twill-woven cotton.

The skirt (.b) is smoothly fitted into the self-fabric waistband across the front and around the hips. The center back is loosely cartridge-pleated. Two rows of the self-fabric pleated ruffle and bias-cut band decorate the bottom of the skirt. The top ruffle is 1 3/4 inches wide, while the bottom ruffle is 3 1/2 inches wide. The center back opening extends 9 1/2 inches. There is no fastener, but numerous pin holes on the waistband suggest it was pinned closed. The skirt is lined with plain, glazed white cotton, while the waistband is lined with unglazed white cotton.

Status

Not on view