DRESS, 2 -piece (Bodice & Skirt)

Fawn silk with cream stripe and mid-brown trimmings.
Bodice: High neck, trimmed with lace. 9 brown fabric covered buttons to waist, hook and eye at throat. Two boned darts under bust each side. Wide band of brown and pleated trim with narrow band of brown on flared lower section. Back cut in two pieces with centre seam decorated with 9 brown fabric covered buttons (12 originally) and bone in mid section. Flare extends to 'V' at centre back. Long sleeves with piped trimming at armhole seam. Cotton lining. Tape with button to fasten at front attached to centre back. All hand-sewn.
Skirt: Slightly gathered in pleats to cotton waistband. Front has plain section at top then panel of cross cut bands: 3 self-fabric to one brown fabric arrangement. Side panels very full. Back falls straight and full with very slight train. Button fastening at centre back. Ribbon trim of self-fabric with brown trim across middle of skirt at back. See Cunnington p. 496 illustration. Deep cross-cut section at hem with brown trim. Cotton lining. Two tapes across back of skirt inside. Called a 'tie-back' skirt, Cunnington p. 491. Pocket in lining at right hand side of skirt. Ref. Cunnington.
Style of mid 1870s.

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History Collection

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