Pink and Tan Party Dress

Overview: This pink silk dress, in three pieces (bodice skirt, belt), was made mainly by hand. It is trimmed with flanges and narrow black velvet ribbon.

Supplemental Pages: Description

Construction: This garment has been made mostly by hand. The bodice is flatlined with light weight linen and laces in the back, but closes at center front, right over left, with hooks and eyelet holes. The puff sleeve is made on a linen foundation with the fullness pleated into the corded armhole. The belt has been cut from the pink stripe 1 1/2" wide and measuring 25". It is lined with white silk. The bow consists of two loops and two tails made of double fabric. The edges and the belt itself are trimmed with an off-white braid that has had a 1/8" pink velvet ribbon threaded through it. The skirt is cut with a center front panel and eight straight to bias panels, four on each side. The skirt measures 70" at the waist and 120" at the hem. See supplemental pages for detailed information.

Trim: There are two bias flanges trimming the skirt, a 3" set even with the bottom edge and a 2 3/4" stitched 9" above the hem. These bias pieces are faced with linen matching the bodice flatlining. Black velvet ribbon is stitched at the top edge of each flange and there is an additional row of ribbon 1 1/4" above the top flange and two rows above the bottom flange, all approximately 1 1/4" apart. The seam joining the facing to the flange is done by machine, but the application to the skirt was done by hand. There are remnants of thread at the neckline of the bodice indicating that it may have had lace or other trim at one time.

Damage: The three pieces of the ensemble are in very good condition. It is obvious that someone tried to alter the garment but perhaps gave up before too much damage was done. There are several nicely darned holes in the skirt and some discoloration under the arms. Wool braid was used to protect the hem, but it doesn't seem to have had much wear.