Late 1870's Natural Form Wedding Gown

From the seller:

DATING TO 1880




COMES WITH A NOTE OF OWNER ID ON THE SEPARATE NET RUFFLED MODESTY PIECE




FASHIONED OF A GOLDEN SILK TAFFETA, TWO PIECE IN ITS CONSTRUCTION




THE SKIRT HAS A CREME SILK STAIN FRONT, HEAVILY RUCHED, RUFFLES TRIMMING THE BOTTOM HEM




TOP WAIST IS IN A PLEATED APRON FALLING AT THE SIDES, REAR FALLS IN LONG TAILS WITH SATIN TRIM, FALLING OVER THE TRAINING REAR




THE BODICE IS MOST UNUSUAL, ALWAYS SEEING SOME NEW FEATURE NO MATTER HOW MUCH CLOTHING I HAVE HANDLED. THIS ONE HAS BUTTON HOLES AT EACH SIDE ON THE TOP, BOTTOM IN SINGLE BUTTONS. THE BUTTONS ARE ACTUALLY LINKS FASHIONED OF LACE, THE CLOSING SIDE HAS CELLULOID BUTTONS BENEATH FOR ATTACHING. BOTTOM BUTTONS HAVE A ROSETTE OF LACE THAT FIT AROUND THE BUTTONS, BOTTOM TWO ARE ABSENT




SILK RUFFLES TRIM THE SQUARE CUT NECKLINE, TRIMMING THE CUFFS AS WELL WITH PLEATED FINISH




THE UNDERARMS EACH HAVE A LIGHTENED FADING AS PICTURED WITH SOME SMALL SPLITS IN THE FADING UNDER EACH AS PICTURED - I WOULD REPAIR WITH SOME OF THE FABRIC OF THE SKIRTING,




BUTTONS ARE MISSING THE COVERINGS, BUT NOT NOTICED




THE APRON OF THE SKIRT COULD USE SOME STRENGTHENING STITCHES




SEVERAL SMALL WATER STAINS, SMALL FRAY AT TOP EDGE OF SKIRT IN SOME SMALL POINTS, WITH TWO FRAY BREAKS TO THE APRON TAILS




OTHERWISE EXCELLENT, WEARABLE, A MOST BREATHTAKING VICTORIAN GOWN, WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE HISTORY TO GO ALONG WITH IT




MEASUREMENTS IN INCHES:




BODICE:

BUST:32

WAIST:24

CENTER REAR LENGTH:28




SKIRT:

WAIST:26

FRONT LENGTH:41

REAR LENGTH:57

From Me:

Before anyone asks "Why is this in the 1870's rather than 1880's?!? It says "married in 1880" right there!"; there is no year 0. The zero was invented much later than our current dating system. Therefore, correct dating is Jan 1 1871 to Dec 31 1880 for the 1870's.

Now...the display. The display is wrong and you can really tell how wrong from the back picture. There shouldn't be a bustle at all. The skirt, instead, should pool out behind the lady. More like this:

or this:

1870's Bustle Era Dress

From the seller:

SHEER ELEGANCE!!
This well made ( hand and machine ) suit is

in outstanding antique condition!

The lady was very petite...my dress form was

way to large to close the jacket.

The jacket is accented with charming ruffle:

The front is also adorned with buttons(these are

just for show as the front is secured with hook and eyes,

and all there)

Measurements:

Shoulder to shoulder seam:16"

Neck to shoulder seam:6.5"

Shoulder seam to cuff:20"

Under arm to arm : 15.5"

Waist :13"

Neck to jacket hem : 18"

( 2 small holes on left sleeve)

Bustle Skirt:

Waist : 26" around

Waist to skirt hem : 42"

The color: olive green with a light green stripe

plus little flecks of gold stripes.

(lining on font of skirt as a few very small holes..

hole on bottom front by hem, please view photo#4&5 ,

plus a small slip in back about an inch long with a few small

holes)

The material... I'm guessing...a wool blend ????

Just a wonderful antique garment to add to your collection

Acquired from a very old home estate sale...

being sold "AS FOUND" I have not cleaned or altered in any way.

I'm sure once cleaned it will be even "MORE" outstanding!

Thank you for looking!

From Me:

The only period wool blends I know of are with cotton, linen, or silk. So, I'm guessing, it's probably all wool. ;-)

1820's Silk Dress

From the seller:

A rare 1820’s taupe silk dress. The dress is all hand stitched. The bodice has padded cording around the neckline and on the sleeve cuffs. The shoulders and armscyes are piped. The bodice is lined with tan cotton and has a tie closure at the waist. The bottom of the skirt is padded and has a band of padded cording. The skirt is unlined except for a wide band of tan cotton at the edge of the hemline. The dress is in good and study condition. There is a wide area of underarm discoloration. (See photos.) There are a few other small pea size age spots. There are a few tiny pencil tip size holes and the inside lining on the bodice has splits. (See Photos.). A lovely dress to add to an early textile collection. Bust 32 High Waist 26 Skirt length 38.

From Me:

I love the 1820's. So cute!

1890's Morning Robe/ House Dress

From the seller:
A lovely 1895 light brown textured silk dress. The bodice has a wide beige lace Bertha style collar. It has leg of mutton style sleeves and tight fitting cuffs. The cuffs have a tab and button closure. The bodice is lined with cotton. The lining has a front button closure but the buttons are missing. The outer fabric has a hook and eye closure. The skirt is unlined. It is in very good condition. There are no holes or splits in the fabric. There is mo underarm discoloration. There is no discoloration on the lace just shadows created by the camera flash. Bust 32 Loose fitting waist 34 Length from shoulder to hem. 52.

From Me:

Ladies, how would you like to lounge around in this all day rather than your leggings and t-shirt?

Simple Brown & White 1860's Cotton Dress

From the seller:

A classic 1860’s Civil war brown and white stripe cotton dress. The sleeves have a tight fitting cuff that have a three button closure. The neck armscyes and waist are piped. The bodice has a front button closure and is lined with cotton. The lining has a hook and eye closure. The skirt is attached to the bodice with cartridge pleating. It is unlined except for a wide band of cotton at the edge of the hemline. The dress is in good and sturdy condition. There is some light underarm discoloration on the inside lining only. There are a few scattered small pea size holes and age spots. A charming dispaly dress. Bust 32 Waist 26 Skirt length 39 Width at hemline 108.

From Me:

I'm pretty sure this would have been worn with either an apron or some sort of sash to hide the drawstring waist.

Turn of the Century Undies!!!

From the seller:

A frilly 1890-1900 three piece wedding trousseau lingerie set. The set includes a camisole top, pantaloons and short slip. They are all made of cotton and trimmed with pink ribbon inserts. The camisole and slip have lace inserts on the front of the bodice. All pieces are trimmed with lace. They are all in very good condition and have no holes. The pink ribbon inserts have breaks and will need replacement on the camisole. The slip had ribbon shoulder straps but they are now missing. Bust 36 Waist 24.

From Me:

I love this for one reason - the chemise doesn't have straps! This means my "it will do in a jiff" Edwardian tube chemise is totally period! Woohoo!

Very Cool Looking Early 1930's Dress

From the seller:

Beautiful very late 1910's early 1920's dress! Dress is made from a thick, black wool tweed with a front hidden snap, boxy cut with neat mock buttons down the side, cotton lace collar, the arms of the dress are made from a rust-colored rayon sliky with a fitted wrist, small side hand pockets. Slight A-line skirt with amazing black and burnt orange embroidered.

For it's age, this dress is in amazing shape! Has not been cleaned and has been in storage for a long time, there are some small holes on the front of the dress {see last image} But other than that, no other issues. This item is not eligible for return.


Size: Small
Label: None


Bust 40
Waist
38

Hips Free
Length 44
Shoulder 15.5



From Me:

Since when is a 40" bust and a 38" waist "small"? That's a large in modern sizing. Anyway...

Geek side taking over a bit here because I want to remake this dress but have the Star War Rebel symbols at the bottom and then wear that to a con and see who notices. :-)

Back to the dress; the side button detail and the overall lines are consistent with early 1930's dresses.