Black and White Striped Late Victorian/Early Edwardian Outfit

 

From the seller:

Here is an Antique Edwardian Striped Brocade Floral Silk 2 PC Dress Velvet Trim Yellow BlacK Stripes.   Features metal hook/eye closures down front of blouse with unattached collar ( hook/eye closure on collar). Fully lined with cotton or linen and corset type boning.  Layered Skirt  hangs a little longer in back, has metal hook/eye closure and metal snaps and is fully lined.  Fragile condition with holes, spots and tears all of which I tried to note in photos.  I would say this piece could be displayed or repurposed.  The front of the bodice has been unstitched as if to make bigger so it is a bit awkward but attached with hook/eye closures.  I have made no attempt to clean or repair this piece.  Estate Find.  Please see pictures and e-mail with any questions. Thanks for looking. 

Approx. Measurements taken with garment lying flat: Please compare measurements with a piece of clothing that fits you to get an accurate fit.

Top measurements:

Chest: about 15" across front from underarm to underarm 

Waist:  about 14" across front 

Measures about 16" long from top of shoulder down front to bottom edge of blouse

Sleeve: about 17” long from underarm to edge of velvet trimmed cuff

Shoulder: 9” from shoulder seam to shoulder seam

Skirt measurements:

Waist: 12 1/2" across front

Hips:  about 22" across front

Length:  39" down front to bottom edge from waist and 41" down back to bottom edge from waist

From Me:

The dress is almost certainly from the Turn of the 20th Century.  I think it may have been cut down or pieces from an 1890's outfit as the sleeves show some interesting seams that would make sense if the sleeves originally were bigger than the wearer's head.   

The outfit was clearly meant for an s-bend corset which would keep it in that era as well.  My guess is about 1900-1902.  Very much end of the Victorian, beginning of the Edwardian era.

Pretty Purple Polka Dot, Late Edwardian

 

From the seller:

Antique Victorian Purple Silk Charmeuse Polka Dot Dress Lace.

Beautiful antique 1800s purple silk satin polka dot gown with puff cape/gigot sleeves, high lace neck with embroidered appliqués, and full long bustle skirt. Hook and eye enclosures.

Pit to pit 18”

Waist 32”

Sleeve length 23.5”

Back length 57.5”

Great condition. Needs a repair to front skirt, where there is a hole- see pictures. Light discoloration at lace at front could likely be removed with professional treatment. A few tiny spots and a few tiny pinholes, neither visible when wearing. Sturdy, 100% wearable and presents beautifully.

From Me:

Hello!  I'm going to try and start this back now that I have a semi normal job again.  

So....I have zero clue why the seller thinks this is in any way or shape "Wearable".  There is a huge freakin' hole in the skirt!  You can see the seller's hand through it!  Even if you aren't one for preserving history to allow the next generation to enjoy, you should have some sense of "hmmm, this is already shattering.  Maybe I shouldn't wear it and make it shatter more while on me?"  This is just being a rational human being?

Anyway, the dress itself is late Edwardian.  About 1908/1909.

1909 Fashion Plate

The short sleeves over more fitted, longer sleeves is a later Edwardian dress trait.  The high lace neckline will all but disappear in a couple more years and is making it's last gasps.   Skirts still have a bit of a train but that too will disappear soon.   

The dress itself is a good example of late Edwardian but, please, never wear it.  It's old.  

Lovely Cream and Silver Edwardian Blouse

From the seller:

1850s ANTIQUE FASHION VICTORIAN GOLD THREAD & LACE SILK BLOUSE
DESCRIPTION: Offered to you is this 1850s antique fashion Voctorian gold thread and lace silk blouse. This is a very complicated and difficult to make model. There are some defects on the fabric due to its age and the buttons cannot be open. For condition see photos. Scarce and highly collectable item. Size: length 16” ; width at shoulders 15”

From Me:

Clearly, the seller had no clue what they had. I'm pretty sure it's just tarnished silver lace - not gold- however, it's still impressive. It's probably from around 1907 ish given what looks like a higher waistline and the shorter sleeves. (Although the seller says it's 16" in length, I'm not sure where s/he's measuring from as the width is looks like a lot longer than the length.  Maybe they confused those too?)

1907 Fashion Plate

Turn of the Century Grape/Wine Purple Dress

From the seller:

This beautiful Victorian gown is 2pieces and is made from a soft wool and trimmed with cutwork with embroidered edgesm there's tear drop shaped decorations overcast in metallic gold threads. The bodice lining is very torn, someone put a make shift cotton lining inside and restitched the label, which I cannot read. It has a gold coat of arms on the left side, something on the right. The name starts with an M. The silk lining on the bodice needs to be replaced, it has pin head hole on the bodice and a few small holes on the collar, a larger one on the seam at the neckline. There's a general fade, but it's all consistent, you only see it when you look at fabric that was covered. The velvet sash around the waist is torn and worn and needs to be replaced. The bodice measures 36 1/2 inches around the bust, waist is apprx 25, across the back shoulder is 12 1/2 and is approx 20 inches long from shoulder to center front point. The skirt has a torn waistband and needs a new one, there's a tear along side the pleats coming down from the waist, a few small moth holes and a series of tears at the bottom on the side, the bottom tear about 8 inches, it's not lined, but I don't think it ever was. Waist you can make to fit, hips full and it's 41 3/4 inches long in front.


From Me:

Bonjourno!!!! Como stai? :-) I'm sorry I haven't posted in months but I only got internet at my gorgeous new home a few weeks ago and it's been trying to push out the Grad School papers since then. I'm taking a break from writing up my homework to post this beauty! The more I look at it, the more I like it. The cut out trim is simply delightful and I love the gold accents.

1902 Fashion Plate

Based on the skirt style and the sleeve style, I think it's early Edwardian.