Victorian dress, ca. 1860

Beautiful and rare early Victorian silk dress, ca. 1860.

This lovely dress is a two piece, a skirt and bodice, and is made of chocolate brown silk. The bodice is decorated on the shouders and sleeves with hand embroided appliques in the shape of pansies, so lovely! The bodice closes in the front with a long row of gilded buttons which have a beautiful pattern. Unfortunately one (only one!) of the buttons is missing at the waist. The bodice falls over the hips. The skirt is enormous! So much volume. This dress was made in the time when the Victorian skirt reached their maximum circumference, sometimes up to 5,5 meters. A skirt like this would have been worn over a very large bell shaped hoop crinoline to give the right silhouet. It is pictured here without any kind of underskirt or crinoline, and as you can see even without the undergarments it is huge. The silk is quite thick and holds it's shape really well. Also still with the dress is a seperate waistband, to be worn under the bodice, with two long silk and lace streamers. These streamers are made from moire silk with a beautiful lace top layer. The streamers have gotten a bit of a different colour over time, but the waistband does belong with the dress, it is fnished with a small velvet pansy (which will be hidden wehn the waistband is worn).

The dress is in amazing condition. The silk is as strong as it ever was, no rips or tears, no shredding. Only the one missing button, and the inner lining of the collar is missing a small piece of decorative trim, but really, superb condition.

The waist measures approx. 64 cms, the bust approx. 82 cms.