Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1815-1820
MediumHand-stitched white cotton
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 53 x 14in. (134.6 x 35.6cm)
Hem (circumference): 80in. (203.2cm)
Hem (circumference): 80in. (203.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's day dress (probably a work dress) of plain-woven white cotton, with an apron front. The dress is unembellished, except for a band of pin tucks and a wider tuck around the bottom of the skirt. The front-opening bodice is perfectly plain; the neckline is round. The sleeves are long and straight, and are gathered at the top and back of the shoulder. The skirt is open for seven inches along the top of each side seam; it is not attached to the front of the bodice, so that the front panel of the skirt forms a flap, which ties around the waist (the "apron front"). The skirt is slightly gathered to the bodice across the back; the bottom edge of the bodice back is gathered in two rows on drawstrings. The dress is entirely unlined.
The waistline of the dress was lengthened to update the fashion, probably around 1820. Old stitching lines are evident along the bottom of the bodice, and along the fabric edges turned inside the skirt. There are also old stitching lines near the wrist edges of the sleeves, also indicating that they were slightly lengthened.
The waistline of the dress was lengthened to update the fashion, probably around 1820. Old stitching lines are evident along the bottom of the bodice, and along the fabric edges turned inside the skirt. There are also old stitching lines near the wrist edges of the sleeves, also indicating that they were slightly lengthened.
Object number1983.160.0
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