Black 1860's wedding dress

antique sleeveless 1860's black top fragile


From the Seller

antique sleeveless top-found in a box with writing "black waist top from wedding dress-1868" (box not included)
no tags or labels
excessive distress from age, use, storing etc.-has several holes and is very fragile (most likely NOT wearable)
measures approx. 17.5" across underarms, 15.5" back length
please use zoom to view enlarged distress and damage detailing
sold as shown as described 
in a fragile condition

From the Industrious Lady
What nice about this item is that it is labeled. So few original items come with a story of its use and age. A black wedding dress might astound us now but during the era any nice dress would be commandeered for duty for its lady's special day. White dresses were first made fashionable by Queen Victoria and fashion magazines from the era also pushed for the use of white dresses for weddings, but this item just goes to show that just because fashion dictated one thing, women made do and did what they could with what they had, The truest sense of being an industrious lady. 

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