Antique 1860s Victorian Floral Challis Dress w Fringe Pagoda Sleeves Maxi Dress

From the Seller

Gorgeous 1860s Victorian challis dress with fringe

- wide pagoda sleeves with 2 layers of fringe

- classic striped floral pattern in warm earthy tones

- most of the dress is made with pleated, light gauzy cotton material

- snaps at waist and clips up the front in common Victorian style

Measurements: bust 30", waist 25", hips open, length 53"

sleeve length 19"

Feels like cotton material - bodice of dress is a thicker material and skirt of dress is a thin, gauzy cotton material (sheer)

Condition: Great vintage condition for its age! Dress has been repaired in MANY places by previous owner where it appears to have had holes (see photos for an example). A couple metal clasps are missing at the waist, some small stains, some spots where the fabric is wearing thin due to age, some small holes - these are not easy to notice because there is ALOT of fabric in this dress due to how its pleated. Please examine the photos closely. Despite these flaws, it still looks BEAUTIFUL and was stored really well.

From the Industrious Lady

Someone grab the smelling salts because this girl is about to swoon. Everything about this dress is perfect, I mean look at how well matched the design is on the back! And on top of that it is Challis,  which to be honest, we don't see enough! Challis is a woven fabric, and the design is created by weaving different color thread into it during the  manufacturing process to create a design.
However, I would disagree with the seller about the fiber content. While Challis can be cotton, it was more likely to be a wool/silk mix. It is very light weight, hence why the seller called it a gauzy material and from the images, it looks like the bodice and skirt are made of the same light Challis fabric.  Maybe the lining on the bodice might confuse someone. As we can see in the image of the sleeve how the fabric itself is weaved into the pattern, and there isn't a right or wrong side. Note that there is no seam in the back, only a row of stitches ran across the fabric, which appears to machine sewing. I have never seen the little snaps used in an original dress, kinda leaning toward those being a modern addition. Totally drool worthy!