Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Mrs. Denison Rossiter Geer
Clothing MakerProbably made by
Mrs. Denison Rossiter Geer
Dateabout 1875
MediumHand-stitched silk and cotton, with brass hooks and eyes and wool tape
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width across shoulders): 24 7/8 x 16 1/2in. (63.2 x 41.9cm)
Skirt (length): 42in. (106.7cm)
Hem (circumference): 102 1/4in. (259.7cm)
Skirt (length): 42in. (106.7cm)
Hem (circumference): 102 1/4in. (259.7cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Sophia Burdick
DescriptionWoman's two-piece day dress, consisting of a bodice (.a) and skirt (.b), made of brown, blue, and white plaid. This plaid pattern has a strong vertical element; the white stripe has a center stripe of variegated ("ombre") blue. The bodice is long, extending in a flared peplum over the hips to accomodate a skirt which is full in back. The bodice closes in front with hooks and eyes from the neck to the waist; from the waist to the bottom edge, it closes with five buttons, all of which are missing. There are stitch marks indicating that non-functioning buttons extended up the right side of the opening edge. The bottom edge of the bodice is bound with a bias strip of self-fabric, topped with light brown piping. The neckline is high and round, and the shoulderline is dropped; both are piped with self-fabric. The sleeves are coat-shaped, and decorated with a five-inch-wide, turn-back cuff, which is bound with bias self-fabric like the bottom edge of the bodice. The bodice is fitted with two five-inch darts above the waist seam, on either side of the front opening. There are numerous lines of old stitching marks, indicating, for example, that the bodice was once decorated with bretelles. In remaking the bodice, the peplum was added and the darts were altered. The bodice is lined with brown twill-woven cotton; the peplum is lined with tan twill-woven cotton.
The skirt (.b) is flat in front, and gathered around the sides and back. The top edge is raw and stitched to the outside of the twill-woven cotton waistband; the silk does not extend all the way to the waistband on the center front panel. The skirt is constructed in two layers; the overskirt is plain, except for a decorative flap over an inseam pocket (the pocket is open, but there is no pouch). The underskirt has an eight-inch-wide flounce of self-fabric, headed by a 1 1/2-inch-wide self-fabric bias strip, which is piped. The bottom edge of the flounce also has this bias finish. The bottom edge of the base skirt under the flounce is bound with brown wool tape. The skirt is lined with brown plain-woven cotton. The flounce and overskirt are lined with brown glazed cotton. Old fold lines and stitch marks indicate that the skirt panels, which had been cartridge-pleated, were picked apart and turned towards the bottom.
The skirt (.b) is flat in front, and gathered around the sides and back. The top edge is raw and stitched to the outside of the twill-woven cotton waistband; the silk does not extend all the way to the waistband on the center front panel. The skirt is constructed in two layers; the overskirt is plain, except for a decorative flap over an inseam pocket (the pocket is open, but there is no pouch). The underskirt has an eight-inch-wide flounce of self-fabric, headed by a 1 1/2-inch-wide self-fabric bias strip, which is piped. The bottom edge of the flounce also has this bias finish. The bottom edge of the base skirt under the flounce is bound with brown wool tape. The skirt is lined with brown plain-woven cotton. The flounce and overskirt are lined with brown glazed cotton. Old fold lines and stitch marks indicate that the skirt panels, which had been cartridge-pleated, were picked apart and turned towards the bottom.
Object number1963.11.9a,b
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