Overview: The short-sleeved bodice, which blouses slightly in the front, is made of pink silk gauze over silk satin and decorated with cream silk fringe. On the right shoulder remnants of silk rosebuds remain, perhaps from a nosegay consisting of silk ribbons and rosebuds.
Construction: The delicate bodice has a satin layer under a gauze layer with a cream linen under-bodice that is fully-boned with 12 bones, machine stitched in. The sleeve are cut as part of the silk gauze over-bodice (they are not set in); they do not have a satin underlayer. There are underarm gussets pieced in, and the left sleeve has an additional piece that is not present on the right side.
There are pads under the arms on the interior for shaping the side bust area. The yoke has a "V" neckline and a tall standing band collar made of lace and adorned with tiny, bright pink glass beads. The collar is 3 inches at center front and center back. The top of the collar has a 1/4" bias band of silk gauze decorated with the beads; the top edge is a silk cord separating from the lace. The collar is boned at the side neck and center back with covered bones and side back with 2 wiggle bones each side. The edges of the net and lace yoke, center front below the yoke, and the bottom of the sleeves are covered with pink silk fringe. The bodice closes down the back with 16 hooks and loops, 3 of which are on the collar. The circumference of the waist measures 29" and from the neck to the waist in the front it measures 16".
Damage: There are numerous repairs to the gauze over-bodice which is shredding. The sleeves appear to be altered and/or repaired by hand, as the construction is different on each sleeve. There is some evidence that the underarm panel of the inner-bodice has been replaced or at least relined because the material is slightly different from the rest of the garment. Makeup stains on inside of lace yoke -- may have been worn on stage.
