Two piece cream color net and crocheted cotton dress

Date

• ca. 1905

Summary

• A two piece cream color net and crocheted cotton dress. This is of interest because the dress has been remade to be fashionable at a later, more modern, time. The original bodice had a pouter pigeon silhouette at front. This caused the front of the bodice to be far longer than the back because the back was fitted across the shoulders and spine whereas the front was very full and intended to blouse over the bosom. When it was remade, a piece of blue synthetic taffeta was added to the waist to equalize the length of the bodice. It may be that the original blouse had a high collar that has been removed and replaced with a simple binding of the same blue synthetic fabric. The skirt is very fitted over the hip and would originally have been worn over a very tight corset that came all the way down to the hip. The entire dress would have been worn over a white chemise and petticoat because it is see-through. The waist is 24" and the skirt is 39-1/2", but slightly longer in the back.