Navy Silk Chiffon Blouse

Overview: The blouse is made of navy blue silk chiffon. It has a wide lace insert that laces with satin ribbon at the center front. The belt has lace over the silk creating contrast.

Construction: The blouse is made of navy blue silk chiffon and a tan cotton 3 1/2" wide lace. The center back is on the fold and the front consists of two side fronts of chiffon and two panels of lace in the center. The same lace is used for the collar and provides a waistline band from side to side in center front. The center front and collar lace is not backed, but the waist band is backed with the chiffon. The blouse back has four small pleats concentrated at center back at the waistband to control the back fullness. There are nine 5" long pintucks at the shoulder of the side front panel, controlling the bust fullness. The bodice is stitched with French seams. The 3/4" waist band in the back controls the fullness and extends on the left side to cross under the waistline band of lace to fasten to the right side with a hook and bar. There are two 18 1/2" by 2 1/2" ties that start at the end of the lace section and tie in the back. The edges of the ties are turned twice and machine stitched. The bodice has one-piece sleeves ending with lace. The armholes are bound with self fabric. There is only a slight amount of ease in the sleeve cap. The lace at the sleeve is seamed on an angle giving the effect of a point on the over-arm. The lace has been applied with a stitch turn stitch finish. The blouse has been shortened by taking a tuck by hand under the front border lace: 3 inches center front and 1 1/2" on the side. In the back the extra length has been tucked and enclosed by folding the waistband in half. The waistband is much thicker than what should be expected on a garment of this quality. This would have made an Edwardian garment look more consistent with the era that followed.

Trim: A 1/2" cream colored ribbon weaves through the holes in the lace to hold the center front together to the bust level. The lace provides contrast to the silk chiffon and appears over both a blue and cream base.

Damage: This garment is in good shape, though there are a few moth holes in the right sleeve and a few in the body of the garment. There is evidence that the collar has been altered as the stitching is of lesser quality than the rest of the garment.