Dress Bodice
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Mrs. Chauncey Bliss
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1892
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk, unidentified boning, and ferrous metal hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width between shoulders): 31 3/4 x 13 3/4in. (80.6 x 34.9cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's Colonial Revival dress bodice, made of chartreuse silk brocaded with a floral design in pale pink, cream, blue, and pale yellow-green. The bodice is constructed with a faux waistcoat of cream-colored silk satin, with the chartreuse brocade appearing like a coat over it. The waistcoat is seen mostly as a narrow wedge from the bust to below the waistline, where it ends in a point on each side of the center front opening. This opening fastens with hooks and eyes. The "coat" of the bodice is long, extending below the hipline; it is straight across the bottom. The lower back is vented at the center back and side back seams. Dress weights keep the resulting two tails in position. The bodice has a 2 1/2-inch-high standing band collar over a narrower band collar of the cream-colored satin. The brocade has a woven border design resembling a picot-edge ribbon woven with a chain pattern. This border design is used to edge the center front opening, extending around the collar. It is also used to edge the vents of the lower back. This border design runs down the length of the sleeves in front; it is simply tacked in place, rather than incorporated into a seam, so that the ribbed selvage is visible. The sleeves are gathered and full at the shoulder, and taper to the narrow wrist. The inside seam of the wrist is open for five inches and fastens with small, self-covered buttons and thread loops. The bodice is lined for the length of the "waistcoat" area with plain, cream-colored silk. It is fitted with two 11 1/4-inch-long darts on each side of the front, while the back is constructed from six pattern pieces to achieve a close fit. All darts and seams are boned (although the boning is missing from the front darts); additionally, the sides are boned between the side and side back seams. All seam allowances are overcast.
Object number2003.33.0
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