Beuaitul Green Silk Dress with Pleated Trim and Points

Antique Dress Victorian 1860's Sage Green Silk Dress

From the Seller
A beautiful antique original 1860’s sage green silk faille two piece dress.  The armscyes on the bodice are trimmed with a deeper shade of green  pleated satin and the cuffs are trimmed with the same satin. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. The skirt has a long back sweep and is unlined.  Some modern lace has been added to the inside hemline but this can easily be removed.  The bodice has no underarm discoloration or age spots. There is one missing button. The skirt has a wide circle mark of fading on one side. (See photo) and a few minor age spots. Also listed this week are the matching cape and bonnet that were worn with this dress.  Bust 34 Waist 28 Front skirt length 40 Back length 50.

From the Industrious Lady
While a little of a dress, its skirt length difference from front to back suggests quite and elliptical shape, it is never-the-less a beautiful garment. The lack of sweat stains suggest that this dress was barely worn, or at least not worn during hot weather. It also has a maker's mark and in certain images we can see signs of machine sewing. A silk dress like this was very expensive and would have taken months of sewing to complete. Whoever owned such am expensive nice dress but didn't wear it was most likely a more higher economic status indidual. Middle class who had only a few silk dresses in their life would wear them to the bone, as dressing well and of high status was emphasized.

Another interesting note is the size of the dress. There is only a six inch difference between the waist and bust. Most modern bodies have at least that measurement, and I have personally measured many ladies who when corseted had a ten inch or greater difference hourglass shape. The lady for whom this was made either had a small bosom or was built more tubular.  A size 28 waist is also a modern size six, which while small, is not unreasonably small.