Turn of the Century Black Bodice

From the seller:

Victorian Bodice 1890s Black 1800s Dress Top Jet Beaded Gibson Girl Early 1900s

I acquired this from an antique auction where the family held onto everything! Never giving anything away. Most items were from Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s and 1930s. The man of the house was a well known artist in Indiana. I believe they said his name was Mel Gray. His wife's name was Pinky.

DESCRIPTION:

* authentic antique vintage fashion
* closure - Metal hooks and eyes front
* label - J. H. Ligel Erie Pa
* fabric - Taffeta
* color - Black
* embellishments- Jet beads, Ruffles
* Era - 1890s Early 1900s

DETAILS:

The bodice is boned with fitted waist. Sleeves are lined with an ecru gauzy fabric. Neck and front are heavily beaded with a beautiful jet beading that really sparkles a lot! Bodice is made of taffeta, and covered with the black chiffon. Sleeves and shoulders have chiffon ruffles. Collar is high, Gibson Girl collar. Back of bodice dips to a rounded V. Inside belt is signed in a yellow orange "J H Ligel Erie Pa". Not sure if that is a designer or a department store name. It may be J W instead of J H. It's a fancy script writing that is hard to tell exactly what it is.


MEASUREMENTS:

* Bust: Approximate 32"
* Waist: Abt 22"
* Length: about 17.5"

MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN AS FOLLOWS


BUST-Underarm to underarm across front and doubled.

WAIST- Actual waist line unless other wise noted. Measured side to side and doubled.

LENGTH - Shoulder down to bottom.

Condition - Very good condition! With normal antique wear. Taffeta and bead work in very good condition. Lining inside sleeves do have some stain. Silk chiffon ruffles do have some fraying around edges on sleeves and shoulders. The body of the bodice is covered with the same chiffon, but part of it is missing in back. A seamstress should be able to replace the chiffon. Even if someone were to remove the chiffon, the bodice is beautiful! I see one tiny flaw on the bead work. Not noticeable! It looks like all beads are there!

All items are vintage and have been worn and loved, some small flaws may go unnoticed. I do my best to include every detail of every garment accurately.


From me:

Probably 1899 or so. It's very, very late Victorian.

1810's Regency Day Cap

From the seller:

A dainty early 1820’s embroidered muslin day cap. The front brim and back crown areas are embroidered with white leaves and swirls. The cap has muslin chin ties and a drawstring closure at the back neckline. The cap is in good and sturdy condition. There is one pencil tip size hole and some scattered age spotting.

From Me:

About a decade older than the seller believes, at least.

Titanic Era Blue Dress with Black Lace

From the seller:

vintage- At one point this dress was a beauty. Over the years the fabric has started to break down. It was purchased at an estate sale with a lot of vintage clothing which was decommissioned from a museum (they can't say which one) The silk material which attaches the sleeves to the dress is nearly gone. I don't know if the museum was planning a repair because some matching material was included with the dress which looks the same age. (last pic/I will send this with the dress) The edges and lace sleeves show signs that there used to be some flesh netting inside. The beading is well preserved and lovely, the lace is in good condition with no rips or holes. Mostly it is the delicate blue silk at the sleeves that is the problem with the dress.It is fragile so I didn't try to steam or iron to show it off better

UP FOR AUCTION: This lovely Victorian vintage dress made of silk, black lace, metallic woven lace, and beads. Bobbles hang from the back sash to weigh it down. This dress is in serious need of repair. The matching material comes with the dress. (please read description for all details of condition and review pictures) The best efforts have been made to represent the aging deterioration of the garment. The beading is beautiful on the sleeves and throughout the lace and buttons. A theme of detailed ornamentation. Approximate measurements: fits modern day size 10 - 34"-36" bust, 33" waist, 40" hips model 5'7".

From Me:

/facepalm

Not only do the oils from your skin cause problems down the road for the dress, but the act of taking it off and putting it on probably cause more rips and tears. If it's "so fragile", why the heck would you think it's a good idea to put it on a living model?!?

Anyway, very much late Edwardian/early Teens. I'm leaning more to the teens though given the way the skirt looks.

1890's Ball Gown Bodice

From the seller:

“"used vintage wear" Purchased at an estate auction with a lot of decommission antique clothing. Not sure of any dating. Ribbons hanging down have some water stains I did with a steamer trying to straighten out the bows for display (dumb,I know). Original hooks, no tears, or open seams except a very small area on the neckline (easy to repair, but after the steaming incident, I didn't touch the dainty thing). Sewing construction appears to be machine and hand stitching. Looks like there was lace at one time.”
UP FOR AUCTION: This vintage corset item. Approximate measurements: 13 1/2" from underarm seam across front to other underarm seam, 12 1/2" across the front bust line, 6" sleeve hole, 12" from neckline to bottom where it V's at waist, the waist is 22", the ribbon hanging down from the waist goes down 38". The material appears to be a nice ribbed satin, the bows appear satin, it closes in the back with hook and eyes, little velvet ribbons come off the shoulder (tied in bows). The color is taupe. See description above.

From me:

Here are some other examples of 1890's dress. The big bows on the shoulders are a giveaway that this is 1890's. My guess is that there used to be sheer sleeves of some sort that got taken out over time.

Natural Form Dressing Gown

From the seller:

Elegant dressing gown of wheat color cotton, embellished with strips of ruching and handmade bobbin lace, with large (about 11 inch) pale green satin bows in the front, and at the sleeves (about 6 inches across).

Estimating the date fairly closely to the early 1870s because of the similar clothing it was found with. Probably custom made by a seamstress for the lady of the house. See my other Ebay listings for drawers, petticoats, etc.

Many fine couture details: Graceful elegant train, with a deep ruffle rucking and handmade bobbin lace added over the fabric of the gown. Buttons about hallways down the front, closed below. Handstitched buttonholes on the front cleverly hidden beneath the handmade bobbin lace edging, which is neatly tacked down between buttonholes to keep it neat. Gathered in the back from the back of the yoke, which consists of strips of ruching and handmade bobbin lace. Bobbin lace ruffle at the neck. Ruching strips and bobbin lace ruffle at the wrists.

Could it possibly have been worn with the matching petticoat and/or drawers (See ebay listings) -- as the lace is so revealing in the front?

Length nape of neck to bottom of train about 55 inches
Length from from front top button to bottom of hem about 50-51 inches
Base of back yoke from arm to arm about 13 inches
Center of armhole base to armhole base about 20 inches
Sleeve from shoulder to bottom of ruffle about 20 inches
Bottom ruffle about 9 inches deep
Insertions of pintucking and lace about 1 1/2 inches wide
Sleeve decoration about 6 inches deep, including insertion alternating strips of ruching about 1 1/2 in wide and bobbin lace of about 1 inch.

Very good condition. Two of the large satin bows are missing, see photo of tiny hole in the front ruching where one is missing. All original buttons, each stitched on with exactly the same thread and same number of stitches.

Probably was put away reasonably clean when originally stored many decades ago, but has the dust of those decades. A few small stains -- one near the hem, a few clustered in the back (see photos) Would need to be washed/cleaned. Has the mellow color of unbleached muslin.


From Me:

I'm thinking more late 1870's but 1870's.

Prettiest Late Victorian Shoes and Stockings

From the seller:

Circa late 1800-early 1900, a pair of rose colored silk shoes with embroidered bow and matching stockings. The inner label says ""Hellstern and Fils,1 Rue du 29 Juillet,Paris" with number on side of shoe.



Item Measurements:




Item condition:
In mainly good strong condition for shoes , with age related marks.. stockings have damage at top..All items we list need to be cleaned.






From Me:

I would very much wear these if I were a Victorian lady. This is *exactly* my style. In fact, I might try to see if I can find some modern stockings that look like this....

1930's Blue Velvet Dress

From the seller:

Estate Sale Find. Out of an old trunk from a Bed & Breakfast in North West Michigan. This place was so much fun.... This Antique Blue Velvet Dress is in very nice shape for its age. It has a belted velvet belt. One side at the waist has 4 snaps, no idea why? It has Silver Bars that have Rhinestone Accents sewn down the front. I guess you would call it short sleeved, a fuller A line style dress, these women were tiny back then... It has no maker or size tag. Here are the measurements, Bust 36", waist 28", and length from neck to hem is 51". The sleeves would kind of expose the top of the shoulders a little bit. There are 5 of the Rhinestone Bars and of course due to age there are stones missing in them.

From Me:

So very 1930's. The reason for the snaps at the side is easy - so you can get the dress on over your head! Once you have it on, you just snap up the side and go.