What to do with Mom's old bustle era dress, Edwardian style

From the seller:

A fetching 1912 burgundy silk dress that has been remade from an 1880’s bustle skirt. The dress comes with the original 1880’s bodice that has not been altered. The front of the dress bodice and skirt are made of burgundy brocade fabric. The dress has a high neck lace insert and the lower sleeves are made in the same manner. The lace is decorated with tiny pink and blue flowers. The bodice is lined with cotton and the dress has a front hook and eye closure. The skirt is unlined. The dress is in very good and sturdy condition. There is mild underarm discoloration and a I inch split on the side of the skirt. Bust 35 Waist 27 Front skirt length 40 Back length 44. The bodice neckline and top pf the sleeves are made of the brocade fabric. It is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. The bodice is in very good and sturdy condition. There is some mild underarm discoloration. Bust 31 Waist 23. A great example of how clothing was remolded for a later time period.

From Me:

1908 Fashion Plate

The extant dress is most similar to the purple and black dress in the fashion plate above. So, not too far off this time. :-)

What Samantha Really Wore in 1904

From the seller:

Circa late 1800’s-1900, a matching gown for lady and her daughter.. a lovely fabric, woven printed silk or muslin floral silk gauze with black velvet on the edges sleeves and bodices. In very good overall strong condition, there are a few areas which need to be seen to… there is damage on top part of childs dress near neckline on both sides and a couple of openings in childs skirt . and a area with damage at back of neckline on ladies bodice... There is alot of fabric in the gown to use and so I think a good seamstress could actually work on these… there are a few other small openings in bodice.Perhaps one could add some fabric and fix top of childs dress by adding folded ruching..The skirt has 5-6 small openings and on one seam there is some seperation so this needs to be seen to ..Part of a museum deaccession and it is suprising to find this type of lovely fabric in strong condition. My thoughts…. well worth repairing… but if not, then the fabric is quite lovely to use.I always test this type of fine fabric as I want to make sure … so it is strong…Buyer may view and return for refund if they do nto agree with my assessment.

From Me:

1901

1904

Pintucks, even horizontal, were very much a thing in the early Edwardian era. And yes, even small children had the whole pigeon front thing going on. The child's dress is what Samantha of the American Girl's collection dolls would have worn.

1820's Sleeved Corset and Petticoat

From the seller:

An early 1820’s embroidered cotton corset and cotton under slip. The under slip has been de-accessioned form the Brooklyn Museum Collection. The corset and under slip are both hand stitched. The corset is embroidered with light and dark gold feather pattern. The bust line has two gussets that are each embroidered. The back has hand stitched holes for lacing. The lacing is not included and is for display purposes only. The corset comes with it original kid leather busk. The corset is in very good and clean condition. There is one tiny hole in the center front bust area. Bust 30 Waist 20 Length 19. The under slip hemline has a crown like styled decoration with inserts of fine muslin. The petticoat has an adjustable drawstring waistline. The petticoat is in good and clean condition. Several of the hemline decorations are missing the muslin insert fabric. (See photos.) Length 37.

From Me:

I tried to find the original museum description but couldn't. I did find a couple of similar cut stays in the Met's current collection, however. According to the Met these both date to the 1820's. I'm tempted to think these are really 1830's based on how off the shoulder they are but they are from the early Romantic period either way.

1850's Pinstriped Ballgown

From the seller:

Impressive pinstripe silk antebellum ballgown dating to the 1850s. Deaccession from NYC musuem with pleated fan front trimmed in lace and velvet ribbon, bodice is lined and stayed with lace up back missing lacings, unlined skirt with scarcenet liner at hem and wool floor brush tape at hem. In only fair condition displays well, with scattered cracks to the silk, breaks to lace fragile as found with storage smell. Chest 32" waist 22" length in front 57" back 63".

From Me:

I *think* probably around 1856 but it could be later than that.

1860's Green Plaid Bodice

From the seller:

Green silk plaid fancy bodice dating to the 1860s. Front hook and eye with silk covered buttons, lined with stays, fancy ruffles on sleeves. Museum deaccession with staining in arm pits and scattered age/storage marks. Chest measures 34" waist 22" length 14", sleeves 19".

From Me:

1864

The black and white dress in the fashion plate above has similar sleeve trim placement. I'd put this at the tail end of the American Civil War.

Late 1860's (?) Fancy Dress

From the seller:

Fancy rose pink silk ballgown dating to the late 19thc. Side closing bodice fully lined with interior stays and underarm pads, decorated with white organza, short sleeve. Skirt may have had additional underskirt, dramatic scallop hem decorated with ruffled organza and velvet ribbon. Original hardware. In overall very good antique condition the silk is strong no underam staining. Chest measures 32" waist 22" length in front 40" in back 49".

From Me:

Based on the skirt shape and the sleeves, I think this is a late 1860's Fancy Dress. What we would call today costumes in the 1860's were out of this world crazy. For instance,

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O577344/fan-design-for-a-sault-leon/

That is supposed to be a hand fan costume. There are tons of drawings of tea length fancy dresses, super crazy fancy dresses, regional fancy dresses - we've got nothing on what they were doing in the 1860's, really.