Monday, August 31, 2015

1830's Striped Dress












From the seller:

This is an antique 1830's silk dress that is badly damaged, but can be used for study, historical reference, or parts. I bought it from an older woman whose great grandfather was a sea captain in Maine, and the family had kept some very old items because of their sentimental value. The fine, lightweight silk striped bodice is gathered and pleated in the front and back, is lined with muslin, and buttons in the back. There is a hook and eye closure in the back of the bodice at the waistband, which is under the bust line and above the natural waist. The back of the dress has no closure, but overlaps to cover the buttons on the lining. The neckline is edged with lace and a gathered, scalloped silk fabric trim. The sleeves are sewn in place with the tiniest of hand stitches, and a self fabric piping. There are 2 rows of gathered fabric ruffles and a layer of fine cotton fabric that is attached under the sleeve, with lovely whitework at the bottom of the sleeve. The skirt is gathered and pleated in the front and the back, and falls nicely into a very full skirt. There is one pocket sewn into the front of the dress on the right side, but it is hidden perfectly under the front pleat. It is probably a size Extra Small, and the measurements are approximately as follows:

Shoulders - 19" across (may have come down slightly over the natural shoulder)
Bust - 18" across
Band under bust - 15 1/2" wide
Length - 53"

CONDITION: This dress is in poor condition, with tears and stains throughout. It is really for someone who wants an antique dress to study the construction, and imagine the woman who made and wore it. There's something that I love about it, since it's the oldest dress I've ever found. It just appeals to my sense of nostalgia, and I can imagine a young woman wearing this, possibly while standing at the window of a widow's walk, longing for her husband to return home from the sea.


From Me:


1836 Fashion Plate


Although the pink dress in the fashion plate is fancier, the style is very similar.

Another Crazy Pink Print Edwardian Dress













From the seller:

I have found a truly special item! Genuine Victorian evening gown. All hand made. This is an estate piece, in as is condition.
It has been stored in a box for many years.
This is for restoration purposes, not for actual wear. The fabric is fragile, and the underneath silk lining is shredding. The pink paisley skirt is in surprisingly good condition with lace insets, which I thought was nice. There is a small train and room for a bustle. The hem of the underskirt that had ruffles and black velvet will need to be removed and added to a new underskirt.

As for the jacket. The lining is all but gone. The boning, hooks and eyes, and banding is still there, but the silk has "melted". There are some holes on the outside of the jacket, but the detail work is still in excellent condition and can be salvaged. There is a velvet band that wraps around the waist and hangs down the back. Very dramatic.
Has a 20" waist! Tiny! Please look at the photos. Message me for extra photos, as I could not get all of them in the listing. I do not have an appropriate mannequin, so I used exactly four pins to attach this to the mannequin. All pining done in unnoticeable places. If you are looking for a mint item, this is not for you. It will require a talented restoration person, but I was generally happy with the condition. At 115+ years old, silks and nets often start to fall apart.


From Me:

At 115+ things have already started to fall apart well before that point - for silks, nets, and humans. ;-)

Most of you will remember this one from last month done in a similar print and this one I posted in 2011. This type of print was clearly popular at the Turn of the Century. I'm curious if Sears, Monkey Wars (Montgomery Wards for those that didn't grow up with it being a staple along with the JC Penny catalog every Christmas), or another big company at the time sold this style fabric in their catalog.

This dress, based on the 3/4 sleeves and overall style is probably about 1905 ish.

December 1905 Fashion

Early 1890's Deep Red Dress













From the seller:

This beautiful asymetrical bustle gown is made from a russet silk faille with a boned bodice. It's has panels of Salmon and cream brocade on the front bodice and insets on the side of the skirt. The bodice is lined, it has a pleated band over the right shoulder ending with a bow in front on the side. The sleeves are gathered around the armhole, it has minor underarm stains and gathered lace around the wrists. A panel was made for the front from the same faille, it hooks in and the salmon brocade arranged over it to make it larger, the panel will just unhook off, so you can put it easily back to original. My measurements will be if you put it back to where it should be. The skirt is lined in brown cotton and there's a large bow that's not attached, it could either go on the back of the bodice at the waist or over the shoulder on the bodice. The top measures 33 inches around the bust, across the back shoulder is 11 1/4, waist is 21 3/4 inches. The skirt is 25 1/2 inches, hips are full and it's 39 1/2 inches long. Excellent vintage condition.

From Me:

I'm not sure what the seller means by the 25 1/2" - maybe the waistband of the skirt?   There isn't a 14" difference between the front and the back length of the skirt so I'm not quite sure what that measurement is.

1891 fashion plate

Sunday, August 30, 2015

1865 Ivory Dress with Red Velvet Trim











From the seller:

A glorious 1865 ivory silk three piece wedding dress that has been de-accessioned from the Rochester, New York Historical Society. The dress was originally worn by Lucy McKin when she married P. Garrison on Dec. 6 1865. The dress was donated by her great granddaughter Mrs. Alan Valentine. The bodice is decorated with wide bands on ruby red velvet and ivory lace. The bodice has a round neckline. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a ruby red velvet button closure. The separate belt has a back bow with long streamers. The belt is trimmed with velvet and lace. The skirt has a long back sweep and is fully lined with cotton. The dress is in good display condition. There is underarm discoloration and a 1 ½ inch surface only split under one arm. There is a 3 inch surface only split on one sleeve and a few pencil tip size holes. The skirt has a couple of thumb size age spots and a few tiny splits in the fabric. There is light soiling on the back train and a three inch period mend on the edge of the hemline. Bust 32 Waist 26 Front skirt length 42 Back length 52.

From Me:

1865 makes perfect sense for the style of this dress. I can very much see this being worn on Saint Nicholas day for a wedding. Very pretty!

Teen's Era Dinner Dress











From the seller:

Beautiful pink lace beaded and white chiffon cased pink gown with tassels and silk. Dating to the early 20thc. Definitive Edwardian styling. Back hook and eye closure, lined in pink with stays, long satin streamer at the back. Gorgeous white seed bead beading with satin band lower skirt, embroidered and couched detailing with row of tiny tassels. A fancy party dress with label "Jennie & Co, New York. Missing a few beads and the white chiffon casing is a bit grubby from storage, the satin streamer at the back has some vertical splits as does the satin band in skirt, uncleaned as found.

Measurements: 34" chest, 24" waist, 56" long from shoulder to hem in the front, 62" long in the back.


From Me:

Most likely 1913/1914 based on the lack of fabric in the skirt. Ya know...I have some curtains upstairs that look like this dress....