Thursday, October 20, 2011

A true turn of the century dress







From the seller:


THIS IS AN AMAZING 4 PIECE WEDDING DRESS WORN BY A WOMAN NAMED MABEL FROM LONG ISLAND, NY , C. 1900-1903.

THIS DRESS IS BEAUTIFUL AND HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR 100 YEARS. THE FABRIC IS STRONG AND STURDY, NOT RIPE OR FRAIL.

THE MATERIAL IS AN IVORY COLOR AND HAS A STRIPED PATTERN, ONE STRIPE SOLID ONE SHEER.  IBELIEVE IT IS A SILK ORGANDY.  IT IS A BIT STIFF AND HOLDS IT SHAPE WELL.

THE 4 PIECES ARE BODICE, SKIRT, PETTICOAT AND SASH/ CUMBERBUN.

THE BODICE IS TAILORED , HAS A LACE YOKE, BILLOWY PIDGEON CHEST , 3/4 SLEEVES THAT ARE QUITE PUFFY WITH DELICATE LACE CUFFS.   THE NECKLINE IS HIGH , THERE IS A FAUX COLLAR OF LACE THAT STARTS AT BOTTOM OF UPPER BUST SEAM AND STARTS FROM OVER EACH BREAST THEN OVER SHOULDER TO BACK ,WHERE IT IS LONGER AND IS FLOUNCY.  THE BODICE HAS DIAMOND SHAPE LACE PANELS IN FRONT AND ON EACH SLEEVE.  THE BODICE HOOKS UP THE BACK AND HAS A PAIR OF SILVER METAL CONNECTORS TO ATTACH  THE BODICE TO SHIRT.

THE SKIRT IS 3 LAYERS.  THE INNER LAYER IS A HEAVY , UNBLEACHED SILK OR SILK BLEND WITH SLIGHT HEM RUFFLE.  THE MIDDLE LAYER IS ECRU NETTING WITH A RUFFLED HEM AND THE TOP , SKIRT LAYER,  IS AGAIN , ELABORATE .

THERE ARE MATCHING LACE DIAMOND PANELS IN CENTER FRONT,  HORIZONTAL LACE STRIPS, 2 HORIZONTAL FOLDED PLEATS , ANOTHER LACE STRIP AND ANOTHER DOUBLE HORIZONTAL FOLDED PLEAT AT HEMLINE.  THE SKIRT IS A LITTLE GATHERED AT BACK CENTER AND A LITTLE LONGER AT BACK .

THERE IS A SEPERATE CHAMPAGNE SILK CUMBERBUN AROUND THE WAIST WITH A SMALL TAIL AT BACK.

THE PETTICOAT IS BEAUTIFUL ALSO.  IT IS A HEAVY WHITE COTTON THAT HAS 3 TIERS OF HEMLINE WITH LACE AND A LITTLE RIBBON.

THE MEASUREMENTS :  I HAVE MEASURED THIS OUTFIT ON THE VICTORIAN DRESS FORM, AS IT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED. SO THE ACTUAL NUMBERS MAY BE VERY SLIGHTLY OFF.

13.5" SHOULDERS , ACROSS BACK, INSIDE SEAM / 13" NECK CIRCUMFERENCE / 18" SLEEVE LENGTH /32" BUST / 23.5 WAIST , 6" BELOW ARM PIT CENTER / 30" HIGH HIP , 11" BELOW ARM PIT CENTER / 48" SKIRT LENGTH, BACK / 41" SKIRT LENGTH , FRONT / 17" LENGTH BODICE, TOP OF SHOULDERS TO SKIRT TOP ( NOT INCLUDING WHAT WAS TUCKED IN ).

THE CONDITION:  FOR IT'S AGE I RATE IT AS  80% -- 85% PERFECT. IT DOES HAVE SOME ISSUES .

THE BACK OF THE LEFT SLEEVE HAS A LITTLE DARK MARKS RUNNING ALONG STRIPE EDGE, THEY ARE FAINT.

ON SKIRT BACK, SLIGHTLY TO LEFT, ON SECOND LACE STRIP AND SURROUNDING , IS A DARK BROWNISH STAIN(PIC) 6" X 4" APPROX, NOTICABLE MORE ON EDGE OF LACE.  IT IS NOT SOLID OR WHOLE.  THE AREA LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN CLEANED.  LOOKING AT IT I BELIVE IT WILL CLEAN AND FADE EVEN MORE IF DONE PROPERLY.  IT'S NOT OVERLY NOTICABLE.  THERE ARE SOME YELLOW SPOTS ON HEMLINE AREA , SKIRT FRONT.

THE  INNER LAYER OF SKIRT HAS SOME STAINING AROUND WHERE THIS SKIRT STAIN IS.  IT ALSO HAS A FEW SMALL HOLES IN HEMLINE BACK.

THE MIDDLE LAYER OF SKIRT, NETTING HAS SOME HOLES IN BODY AND RUFFLE.

THE CUMBERBUN HAS SOME STRESS DAMAGE, THINS RIPS IN FOLDS.

THIS OUTFIT COMES WITH THE EXCESS OF ORIGINAL FABRIC .  IT IS A 12" BY 23" APPROX LENGTH.  THIS PIECE DOES HAVE SOME SLIGHT STAINING ON IT. NOT ALL OF IT.  THERE IS ALSO SOME SCRAPS OF FABRIC.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOS THERE IS A LOT TO THIS.  I HAVE TRIED TO SHOW THE HIGHLIGHTS. I HAVE MORE PHOTOS, AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, THAT SHOW IN DETAIL SOME OF THE ISSUES.

THIS IS A PIECE THAT I BELIEVE CAN BE ALTERED TO ADD A LITTLE OR TO USE AS A PATTERN TO MAKE INOT A MODERN SIZE.     IT IS BEAUTIFUL JUST SITTING ON A DRESS FORM.  IT IS VICTORIAN AT IT'S MOST BEAUTIFUL !


From Me:

This is truly a remarkable gown from the Belle Epoque. The amount of lace on this gown alone makes it droolable but the shape and silks also make it a perfectly lovely dress.

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