Edwardian Lawn Dress

From the seller:

This is an antique ladies Edwardian lingerie dress.

This dress is white cotton and lace.

22" waist
36" chest diameter
52" long

This dress is in "as found" condition--it has a couple of small yellow stains but it has not been cleaned or pressed.

It does have some wear: there is deterioration on the top of one shoulder;
it has two repairs (one is under the right arm, the other is under the left chest ruffle);
it also has one small 1/4" hole on the bottom and a 1" tear in the lace along the bottom edge;

Still a really beautiful display piece that should clean up nicely.


From Me:

I'm pretty sure this was for a teenager based on the length and waist size. It reminds me a lot of this dress from 1905 due to the way the blouse is trimmed:

1905 dress

Child's Edwardian Insertion Lace Dress

From the seller:

This is a darling, sheer, lightweight Edwardian girls dress. In a Gibson Girl style, it has a high collar, yoke at the neck, exaggerated "pouffed" silhouette at the front.
The waist is dropped, the skirt is flared, both skirt and yoke are scalloped and decorated with floral embroidery. The yoke also has a couple of rows of French knots.
There are embroidered and lace inserts, it buttons at the back.
It's 22 3/4" long, in front. it's 25 1/2" at the waist, 27" at the bust, without expanding the pleating. The waist needs a ribbon or belt for a finished look.
Very good condition, with a small tear just below the opening in back, below the waist. I don't see any other holes or other damage. C1905.
International bidders might be charged VAT, customs, postal or delivery duties, in addition to my own shipping charges. Please contact your post or customs office if you have questions about these charges.

From Me:

Gibson Girl refers to the ladies of the Turn of the Century who perfected the messy bun - mostly in their 20's. The exaggerated poof is called a pigeon front.

1905 Fashion Plate

Notice the young girl the upper left corner of the fashion plate.  The style of dress is very similar to the extant one.

Late Victorian Turn of the Century Yellow Dress

From the seller:
Fanciful and extraordinary yellow silk trained gown with off-white fine net ruffles. The ruffles are made of a fine netting. They are applied on a white braid and then sewn onto the gown Bodice and cuffs have an inner lining of gold lame. Gold lame belt with two ornamental buckles. The material is in excellent condition as it's built on a cotton lining. Yellow velvet thin ribbons highlight the bodice. This antique outfit is in quite excellent condition. Only the inner lining of gold lame it’s darkened. Darker areas on the backside of the bodice. May be the ornamental buckles are newer. The decoration is not included.
Waist: ~ 24"
Bust: ~ 30"
Front Length: ~ 58"
Back Length: ~ 66"


From Me:

This is so frilly, so feminine, and yet so scandalous at the same time it's really amazing to look at. Why scandalous? Check out that neckline. See the sheer neck? See how low that sheer bit dips in the front? It's meant to look like it's covering everything when, really, it's sheer as sheer can be.

1899 Fashion Plate

Late 1880's Day Dress in Blue and Red

From the seller:

Gorgeous bustle gown in a tone on tone stripe silk brocade and a contrasting red and navy velvet & twill silk brocade, ca. 1890. The waist has a collar in velvet with a pleat bib front and velvet stripe lapels. Gorgeous blue cut steel buttons close down the center front. Dart fitted under the bust through to the hemline. Pleated fan peplum rests on the bustle. Long, set in sleeves end with a turned under finish and velvet stripe fluted cuffs. The dart fitted and gored skirt falls in alternating panels of the brocades. Blue muslin section at the upper back skirt with a back hook closure. Over skirt falls in gathers from a string tie and rests across the bustle. Good condition. There is edge wear on some of the seams of the bodice. Underarm stains with minor breaking to the silk. There is a large greenish stain on the front hemline. A few pin holes on the lower overskirt. There are a couple other tiny dots, but nothing major. The decoration is not included.
Waist: ~ 23"
Bust: ~ 28"
Front Length: ~ 56"
Back Length: ~ 59"

From Me:

I love how garish this outfit is. It's like an understated patriotic dress that didn't quite want to go for the full red, white, and blue. However, based on the fit, this was probably for a young lady.  The colors were very popular in 1888.  Also, the sleeves in 1890 had already started to "poof", so this is probably from about 1888.

1888 Fashion Plate

Summery Love! 1840's Sheer Dress

From the Seller:

Sehr schönes und in seiner Schlichtheit fast schon elegantes Sommerkleid aus der Biedermeierzeit, ca. 1845. Hergestellt aus weißem Leinen. Geraffte Schneppentaille. Rückwärtiger Verschluss mit Knöpfen und mit Haken und Ösen. Der glockenförmige Rock ist mit drei Reihen von Volants verziert. Halblange Ärmel, die mit feinster Spitze verziert sind. Sehr guter bis exzellenter Erhaltungszustand. Kaum wahrnehmbare, sehr dezente Verfärbungen an wenigen Stellen im Stoff. Ein Haken fehlt. Die Dekoration ist nicht inbegriffen.
Bust: ~ 78 cm
Waist: ~ 56 cm
Length: ~ 130 cm

From Me:

The bad google translation:

Very beautiful and in its simplicity almost elegant summer dress from the Biedermeier period, c. 1845. Made of white linen. Ruffled snap waist. Back closure with buttons and hooks and eyelets. The bell-shaped skirt is decorated with three rows of flounces. Half-bodied sleeves embellished with the finest lace. Very good to excellent condition. Barely perceptible, very subtle discolorations in a few places in the fabric. A hook is missing. The decoration is not included.
Bust: ~ 78 cm
Waist: ~ 56 cm
Length: ~ 130 cm

The bust is 30" and the waist is 20", which makes a lot of sense with what we are seeing. The waist has clearly been elongated with the addition at the waistline - easily covered by a belt. The growth pleats - although starting to be more of a fashion statement rather than actual pleats to be let out by the 1840s- are another indication that this is a young lady's dress and not one for a grown woman.

The shorter sleeves and the pleated front were very fashionable in the mid 1840's. It vaguely reminds me of this wedding gown in the MET's collection given the short sleeves and pleated front.