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Dress

Clothing MakerMade by Unknown
Dateabout 1895
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched cotton, with machine-made cotton lace, and ferrous metal hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders x hem circumference): 53 1/2 x 14 3/4 x 121in. (135.9 x 37.5 x 307.3cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Bradford Griswold
DescriptionWoman's dress, which is probably a folk dancing costume. The dress is constructed to simulate a jumper and blouse, with a white cotton yoke, collar and sleeves, and red cotton skirt and bodice. The yoke has a turn-down collar of machine-made lace imitating needlerun net. Under the collar, there is also lace simulating a scarf; it is laid in a V-shape on the back and continues over the shoulders and down the center front opening of the yoke. The leg-o'-mutton sleeves are very full at the shoulder and taper to the wrist, which ends with a cuff effect made of the lace. The bodice has a scooped neckline edged with a self-fabric ruffle; it is otherwise plain. The skirt is gathered very full all around the waistline. The bodice opens down the center front, while the skirt opens to the left of the center, so that a section of the skirt extends beyond the bodice opening. The opening fastens with locking hooks and eyes on the bodice, and the top of the skirt fastens with one regular hook and eye. The bodice is fitted with two 6 1/2-inch-long darts on either side of the front, while the back is constructed of six pattern pieces to achieve a close fit. All darts and seams are boned, except for the curved side back seams. The white cotton of the yoke continues throughout the rest of the bodice to form a lining. The dress appears to have been hastily constructed, further suggesting that it is a costume piece.
Object number1978.105.39
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Dress
    Hofer family
    about 1905-1910
    Gift of F. Ruth Johnson, 1970.39.5a,b  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Florence May Alford
    about 1897
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    Minnie Tatem Satterlee
    1893
    Wedding Dress
    James McCreary & Co.
    about 1892
    Gift of Mrs. Vincent Brown Coffin, 1971.67.14.1a-b, Connecticut Historical Society, Public Doma…
    Della Maria Brown
    1891
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    Unknown
    about 1875
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    Mary Ann Patten
    about 1893
    Front of dress with one petticoat
    Unknown
    about 1905-1915
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    Jennie Holcomb Yale
    about 1895
    Front of dress with evening bodice 2.

Gift of Mrs. Seth P. Holcombe and Mrs. Gilbert A. Wick…
    Mary Jane Buel
    about 1890-1895, altered from earlier dress