Mid Edwardian Dress

From the seller:

Here is an Antique Silk Brocade Gown Skirt and Bodice.  It features lace over velvet at neck, skirt and cuffs of sleeves and pearl type beaded trim.  The bodice has a "From Custom Order Dept Wm. Barr D. G. Co. St Louis Mo." tag on inside of silk strap belt with hook/eye closure.  The bodice has metal hook/eye closures all the way down and boning.  The skirt has metal hooks but no closures.  Condition:  There are some spots on the skirt as pictured, the sheer blue fabric on bodice has holes and is fragile as well as some interior fabric that is shattered which could be replaced and restored, there is some yellowing on the bodice both front and back.  I did not see any holes and the overall silk brocade fabric is strong and stable as is the lace.  The velvet on bodice is worn in a few places and has come unstitched which also could be replaced and restored.  From an estate in found condition.  Please see pictures for details and e-mail with any questions. Thanks for looking.

Chest: 15" across front from under each arm

Bodice Waist: 11" across front

Skirt Waist:  15" across front

Bodice Length: 16" from top of shoulder to bottom edge

Skirt Length: 42" from waist to bottom edge

Shoulders:  12"

Sleeve:  15.5" from underarm to edge of sleeve

From Me:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wiener-Chic-Original-1906-Fashion-Color-Plate-Ad-Antique-16-x12-Purple-Lady-/221442384433?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338efea231

The above fashion plate is from 1906.  Notice the collar and the high neckline are the same as the dress above. 

Pink Edwardian Dress Made for Western Market

From the seller:

19th century ottoman armenian wedding dress from istanbul(constantinapole)dress made from handwoven fabric with silk and gold metallic threads with special rose motifs.condition is great no holes and goldmetallics are so shiny.have small stains at armpits.

jackets height:41cm

neck width:39cm

arm legth:40cm

skirt height:front105cm back:127cm

waist of skirt:80cm


From Me:

Mid Edwardian. The Fashion plate above is from 1906.

Two 1880's Bustle Gowns

From the owner:

I bought both dresses from the US - the grey one has a Sothebys label inside. I tried to trace its history and got as far as someone saying they thought it may have come from the collection at Castle Howard, but i don't have any evidence for this.

Sorry, my internal shots for the brown one are on my old phone which i can't find. I don't want to start mucking about with her again, the skirt lining is shot and disintegrates easily.

Both are mid to late 1880s , i think, you may be able to educate me. The brown one looks a lot like a lot of the dresses you get in cabinet photos of the period.

The grey one is silk and lace, with red velvet at the neck and cuffs. I think the lace may have been white to start with. Waist is 24, bust is 36 - not sure where i measure the length from? Love the tiny pleats on the elbows, i think her movements were pretty limited! The dress is all one piece, the bodice attaches to the back skirt panel. Inside is a small self fabric pad which sits on top of the bustle for a more pronounced shape. I love the complexity!

Brown one is silk faille, lace and what looks like velvet - although now it looks a bit like wet dog.....I think she's been through the wars. The velvet bands i think have been re attached at some point, hence the wonkiness. One was just pinned on so i straightened it up, otherwise i don't want to start unpicking things. On the bustle area there are loose stitches where i think it will have been tacked up, which would level out the hem. I think this was a walking dress which wouldn't have been dragging on the ground. Ive sort of tucked it up how i think it might have looked. The lapels are uneven too, but i can't see any signs of alteration.

Anyway, i'm obsessed and could waffle on for hours - hope this is ok. It feels a bit selfish keeping them too myself, so its good to share!

From Me:

This is what I originally envisioned when I started this blog on Tumblr *years* ago - that people could send in pictures of items they had in their personal collection with their own stories of the objects. I love both of these mid 1880s dresses and thank you so much Simon for sending them to me. I know others will love to see them as well.

American Civil War Era Outfit with Day & Evening Bodices

From the seller:

This is a beautiful brown and white plaid with red and black accents day dress with wide pagoda sleeves. There is a second low body, back fastening evening bodice with the sleeves missing (or never added?), but the piping is in place, ready for them. There is also a matching triangular back pelerine or fichu which is trimmed with 3.25 inch (8 cm) wide brown and white striped silk ribbon with pink & black accents which could have been worn with either version of the dress.
The darted bodice fastens up the front with 13 hidden hooks and eyes. It is boned in the two darts on either side and lined in brown, twilled cotton. The wide pagoda sleeves are lined in thin white glazed cotton and deeply faced at the bottom in pale pink China silk. The evening bodice fastens up the back with 11 exposed hooks and eyes. It is lined with white plain weave cotton and boned in the two bust darts either side of the front, either side of the center front seam and both side seams.
The skirt is box-pleated in the front and sides with a small section at the center back tightly gauged. It is lined in thin white glazed cotton with tan wool braid binding the hem on both sides.

Measurements: Bust: 35 inches (89 cm), Waist: 24 inches (61 cm), Skirt front length: 44 inches (111.7 cm), Skirt back length: 48 inches (122 cm), Hem circumference: 255.5 inches (385 cm)


From Me:

The hem would make sense for a mid 1860's dress - although it is still quite large. It would also explain the skirt front/back lengths - as the back would start to have a slight bustle by the mid 1860's.