Dressing Jacket/Robe

From the seller:

 Snow white fine linen combing jacket dating to the third quarter 19thc.  Front button closure, pintucks along with embellished lace trimmed shoulder details, voluminous sleeves that end in charming lace trimmed bells, waist cincher pleat detail at small of back, with full lace trimmed skirt below, white hand feather stitch embroidery details thruout. Wonderful for design inspiration.  Wearable with care, has two small mended holes back of neck, with tenderness, couple of thin spots to the linen, underarms good, some fray to lace trimming neckline and weakness to top button hole. Chest measures 36", waist 30", length 30", sleeves 24".   

From Me:

I'd totally wear this beauty to work with a pair of loose trousers or a long flowing skirt. However, this was originally worn similar to a summer robe.

1920's Cut velvet Purple Dress

From the seller:

Grand and elegant evening gown dating to the 1920's. High quality materials in a luminous silvery/pink silk cut velvet cut to the violet purple silk chiffon. Large stylized deco foliage design elements. With a violet silk chiffon liner, dropped waist with gathered rossette on one hip and cascading violet chiffon down one shoulder. In excellent uncleaned as found vintage condition, just a few small holes to the lining. Wearable. chest measures 40" and length 52", waist and hips all approx. the same.

From Me:

A very wearable size in a lovely color!

1870's Summer Bustle Gown

 From the seller:

Charming  sheer and fluffy! organdy summer bustle wedding gown dating to 1870-80.  All the bells and whistles of the fashion aesthetic of the period.  Cascading silk ribbons, down the front in a sea of Valenciennes lace ruffles, tiny thread covered buttons down the front, silk satin wide sash,  shirred organdy details on the swagged polonaise skirt with layered bustle back, more shirring and ruffles thruout sleeves and hem. Just grand and in wonderful overall uncleaned antique as found condition, with slight age related overall yellowing to the organdy with some streaking of yellowing down one side, couple of pindot holes.  chest measures 34" waist 24", length 57", sleeves 18". 

From Me:

So frothy! This is a late 1870's/early 1880's era dress when they went to natural form. It's so intricate that you can spend an hour looking and still find new details.

1860's Beautiful Red Dress

From the seller:

Cranberry silk reception gown dating to the 1860's. Dropped and piped bell sleeves that are lined in white silk and tiny box pleats, long tails on the bodice, bodice stayed and lined in white fine cotton with waist cincher that closes in front with hook and eye, exterior with silk covered buttons and small scale black Spanish lace trim. Trained skirt with tight cartridge pleating at waist band, no closures, completely lined in polished cotton, with window pane scarcenet at interior hem, trimmed in swags of black Spanish lace front of skirt with flounce at hem. In very good overall condition, with discoloration stains at armpits, the tails on the bodice look as if they have been resewn with some careless stitching at back seam, easy to redo, the lace on skirt needs some minor resewing, occasional age related streaking, no holes.

Chest measures 34", waist 24", skirt waist 24", length in front 44" in back with train 56".

From Me:

This is a post American Civil War gown nd I love the look of the black lace against the red. I wish there were more pictures of the bodice but I'd put this around 1867 or a bit later.

Green Blouse

From the seller:

Up for auction this evening is a vintage Victorian/Edwardian Green Embroidered Blouse. A defined "V" Back & has Pearl in-lay buttons is pairs, but closes with 8 snaps in front. Heavily applied embroidered appliques' to the sleaves & waist, with gold embroidery throughout. May have been a high-end piece for its' time, because it may have required another person (Servants?) to get in or out of this top! I'm not sure if this may bwwn considered "Riding Clothes" because of the style of the back. Very Interesting.... I believe this is a wool/cotton mix, as there are sweat stains under both arms that have bleached out the original color. My mannequin is a size 6, & this did look good for size on her. The inside diameter of the neck is just over 13 inches, the Bustline is 33 inches, the sleeves measure 21 1/4 1/2 inches from the shoulder to the cuff hem. Vertical lenght in the front is 14 inches from the base of the collar & 16 inches in the back. The waist could be a large as 25 inches, but that might be pushing it. I did not find a tag, so it may have been made from a pattern. Definately Unique! I don't know if the Sweat Stains can be corrected, but someone with experience with this type of clothing is better suite to attemp to do so. Please look at the photographs & ask any questions! Starting bid will be $19.95, with the winning bidder paying all shipping costs & a 3.00 handling fee. This may be an excellent Blouse for re-enactments, or even to re-engineer for different sizes with moderen materials. There may be all sorts of possibilities!

From Me: 

This wonderful blouse is probably Edwardian.   The embroidery on it is stunning to behold.  This was definitely someone's favorite blouse. 

PINK! Corset

From the seller:

A fantastic find and the type of ladies garment no Edwardian woman could do without.
You are bidding for a lace up corset and circa 1910.
The corset was made from cotton, has steel boning, long laces and steel hook and eye closures. Best of all, the original garters are still attached!
The fabric is cinnamon pink and was machine brocaded with a pattern of small roses. The top of the bodice is trimmed with a machine embroidered and lace trim.
Marked on the inside with the manufacturer's name and other info saying this is an American Lady corset, Style 298, Double Boning in Bone Casing Guaranteed Not to Rust; Cotton Corset Made In U. S. of America.
A small picture logo of a Victorian woman with elaborate hat is near the written information.
Garter hardware is imprinted with PAT. 3 29 1910.
Very clean. There is some fading to the fabric and wear along the top of the bodice and on the garter attachments. 

From Me:


Wow!  This is a very pink corset.  I love seeing ones that aren't the boring white we are all so use to.  

Late Edwardian/ WWI era lace gown

From the seller:

 This lovely lace and silk satin dress is tiered in lace with a sheer net underskirt. She fastens down the back with tiny snaps and hook & eye fasteners. She is accented with a silk cummerbund and each of the three lace tiers has a silk satin border.  She is 42" long, sleeves are 12" long, she will fit a 30-32" bust, 24" waist, and 36" hips. Measurements were taken in the relaxed state and not stretched. There is a light brownish stain on bottom tier, very inconspicuous, I nearly missed it. There is no shattering of the silk, large tears or holes, or musty odors. The lace is exquisite! She is in actually very good condition for a lady of her advanced years. Sold as found.

From Me: 

So this is what to do with old lace curtains! :-)   I think this is late teens/early 20's based on the tiers.

Late 1860's Purple Gown

From the seller:

>This beautiful gown with it's swags and bows was probably for half mourning, as it is a strong violet silk satin with purple velvet features.

It needs to go to a competent dressmaker or perhaps a final year design student to sort out two serious issues [although there are other problems less serious]. The first is that the waist is a complete mess and needs to be changed. All the damage is centred at and around the waist, so this is a do-able job. The second, far less a problem, is that the whole of the fold of the bottom hem [quite huge!] is split and needs complete re-hemming.

The dress has an interesting history! Originating in Scotland, the dress appears to date to the 1860's as it is now, with it's pagoda sleeves and huge trained skirt. However, I believe it is possibly earlier than this. I think that the bodice and skirt were originally seperate, and that the pagoda bottoms to the sleeves are add on's to update the gown to the fashion of the 60's, and it could have originally been bell sleeves. Pagoda sleeves, even with lovely silk linings, should not have a seam in them as far as I know!

The vast amount of hand stitching is simply fabulous, but the few areas of machining show the 1860's changes.

This just what I THINK, not what I know!

However, I do know that the dress was then again worn in the 1940's or thereabouts, as I have removed 1940's shoulder pads!!!!!! and a 1940's powder puff hankie from the pocket!!

If only this lovely garment could talk! What a tale she could tell!

The dress still has it's three original velvet buttons and the lace is also 19th Century. There are interesting tape ties at the front of the bodice which are also original.

Pinned to the waist is an extra bow and lace jabot, which I am sure would have been fixed to the neckline, not the waist, but you have the luxury of placing it where you think is appropriate!

The exterior underarms are fine with slight underarm lining staining.

The bodice lining and bones are certainly 1860's or earlier and the gauze to the skirt hem is also original.

The vast bulk of the fabric throughout the gown is strong, but there are small patches of wear/shattering to one shoulder, and the lower centre back.

There is gentle fading to the colour which is not stark and unpleasant, but is obvious.

There is a series of nasty holes to the front hem spanning around 3", which will certainly need to be patched.

There is staining, especially to the lower back train. A biro squiggle to the front bodice [shown] can be covered by the jabot.

A lovely thing to display from a far off time, the dress could possibly be worn if the waist and hem were professionally renovated

As a display piece, with lots of space around it for the lovely skirt, it is a remarkable colour and very much a conversation piece for historians.

The dress will just fit my 33"/23" mannequin except at the midriff so you will need to be 32/22" to wear it.

From Me:


I want to make this dress. It's lovely. The velvet accents on the lavender gown is just stunning.