This
is a reproduction of a Civil
War/Victorian 1860's era day dress. This dress is newly sewn by me and
is constructed from authentic period patterns (based on actual garments
from the period). This two piece dress would be perfect for church on
Sunday, an afternoon tea, or a stroll around the shops.
The fabric is a woven
plaid of light navy, yellow and black on a beige background. The bodice
is trimmed with two rows of period correct cotton
braid (not the synthetic upholstery braid that is seen so frequently).
The dress has closes with hand sewn hooks and eyes and is accented with
working black braid frogs. The hooks and eyes fasten the dress
securely, so that there is not unnecessary stress on the frogs. The
dress is shown on a dress form with a bust measurement of 48 inches and
a waist measurement of 42 inches. The dress is displayed over a 6-bone
hoopskirt, which is not included. The skirt measures 45 inches at the
center front from waist to the bottom. This dress is unhemmed,
and is slightly longer in the back to give a more graceful appearance.
This is a period correct method for hemming a dress of this type as it
allows the skirt to fall gracefully over the hips and not ride up in
the back. The skirt has a generous 162 inch sweep.
The collar is a very
fashionable 1 1/2 inches wide (the preferred collar width at the time)
and is basted in so that it can be easily removed if it should require
bleaching, but is fastened very securely so that you don't have to
worry about it coming off. The bodice is lined with cotton muslin which
will help this dress to retain it's shape and style for a long time to
come. The dress has pagoda sleeves which were one of the most common
sleeve types of the day. They are trimmed in the same two rows of
cotton braid as the bodice. The underside of the peplum and the sleeves
are lined with the same plaid as the rest of the dress.
The skirt fastens in the
back with a hook and bar closure.
***
Only 100% cotton has been used to give breathability to the fabric in
hot weather. All fabric was pre-washed before this outfit was made so
that no shrinkage should occur.
