1860's Cotton gathered work dress

Antique Dress Victorian 1860's Tan and White Cotton Print Dress

From the Seller

A charming antique original 1860’s tan and white cotton print dress. The sleeve cuffs and hemline are trimmed with thin bands f white cotton. The dress has piped bishop styled sleeves. It is unlined and has a front button closure. The dress is in good condition. There are a few scattered small age marks and a few pencil tip to tiny pea size holes. There is one ½ mend on the skirt front and two on the waistband. Bust 32 Waist 22 Skirt length 42 Width at hemline 132

From the Industrious Lady

This dress is a very nice cotton work dress with gathered front bodice, and shows the use of cutting striped fabric in different directions of the  grain to create a complimentary effect. In later years this would be referred to as chevron stripes. Interesting to notice that the skirt has a dog leg closure, and has been placed on the dress form wrong so that it lays over the front instead of under neath, creating the flat front that we see. The sleeves are very long, and the skirt is only 132" around. This almost appears to be a remade 1840's dress or early 1850's dress remade to be an 1860's silhouette. The front is almost begging to go down into a point as was seen during those earlier eras.