Monday, December 29, 2014

1880's Brown Bustle Era Outfit










From the seller:
A wonderful 1880’s chocolate brown silk bustle traveling dress and jacket. The bodice has ruched cuffs and a center back peplum. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. The skirt is lavishly designed with draped panels. The skirt front is trimmed with a large light brown silk bow that has long streamers. The hemline is designed with 4 ruffles. The back of the skirt is gathered into a bustle effect. The skirt is lined with cotton. The jacket has a front button closure. The back has a faux hood made of dark brown silk and lighter brown satin. The faux hood is trimmed with brown braiding and silk and chenille tassels. The back is trimmed with decorative buttons. The inside is lined with brown flannel. The ensemble is in very good and sturdy condition. There are no splits or holes in the fabric. There is mild underarm discoloration on the bodice that barely shows because of the dark color of the fabric. There is some very minor fraying on the skirt waist band. The ensemble is for DISPLAY ONLY. Bodice measurements: Bust 32 Waist 24. Skirt length 39 ½ Jacket measurements: Bust 34 Waist 30. It is very rare to find a completed traveling ensemble from this time period.
From Me:

I don't think this is necessarily a traveling ensemble. Rather, the jacket looks to be natural form (notice that the collar to it looks like a later addition) and the bodice/skirt look bustle. I *think* the skirt might have had some material added later to make it a bustle and a new bodice was made for the latest fashion. Given that the Natural Form Era dresses often had trains, it wouldn't be hard to just rearrange the material and bustle the train up.

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