Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1870
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched wool/cotton, silk, and cotton, with silk-covered (probably) wooden buttons, brass hooks and eyes, and unidentified boning (probably baleen)
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (back length x width across shoulders): 54 x 17 1/2in. (137.2 x 44.5cm)
Dress (center front length ): 52in. (132.1cm)
Hem (circumference): 138in. (350.5cm)
Component (back length of overskirt): 29 1/2in. (74.9cm)
Component (front length of overskirt): 17 1/2in. (44.5cm)
Dress (center front length ): 52in. (132.1cm)
Hem (circumference): 138in. (350.5cm)
Component (back length of overskirt): 29 1/2in. (74.9cm)
Component (front length of overskirt): 17 1/2in. (44.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's day dress (.a) and overskirt (.b) of fine, cream-colored fabric with a wool weft and cotton warp; it is trimmed with blue silk. The dress is decorated over the shoulders from the waistline in front to the waistline in back with a band of the cream wool dress fabric, bound along its scalloped edges with bright blue silk. The bodice closes at center front with ten blue silk-covered domed buttons. The neckline is high and round; the shoulders are dropped. The coat sleeves are trimmed at the wrist with a silk-trimmed scalloped band of self-fabric, like the bodice. The bodice is fitted with two seven-inch darts on either side of the opening; the darts are boned. Plain-woven white cotton lines the bodice.
The skirt is flat in front and cartridge-pleated across the back. The hem is decorated with a 9 3/4-inch-wide scalloped band of the blue silk. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The skirt is lined with white glazed cotton. The top of the skirt is the lining fabric only; it would be covered by the overskirt when the dress was worn, so it was economical not to use the wool fabric where it wouldn't show.
The overskirt (.b) is longer in back than in front; the sloped bottom edge is scalloped and bound with blue silk. Two scalloped bands of self-fabric bound with the silk extend from the waistband, down over each hip in front, ending with rosette. The over skirt is flat in front; the fullness of the back is controlled with layered box pleats. The waistband is covered with a band of the cream wool fabric, bound on all edges with blue silk; the top edge is scalloped.
The skirt is flat in front and cartridge-pleated across the back. The hem is decorated with a 9 3/4-inch-wide scalloped band of the blue silk. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The skirt is lined with white glazed cotton. The top of the skirt is the lining fabric only; it would be covered by the overskirt when the dress was worn, so it was economical not to use the wool fabric where it wouldn't show.
The overskirt (.b) is longer in back than in front; the sloped bottom edge is scalloped and bound with blue silk. Two scalloped bands of self-fabric bound with the silk extend from the waistband, down over each hip in front, ending with rosette. The over skirt is flat in front; the fullness of the back is controlled with layered box pleats. The waistband is covered with a band of the cream wool fabric, bound on all edges with blue silk; the top edge is scalloped.
Object number1986.228.0a,b
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