1865-1867 French Afternoon Dress
with
Victorian Child's Dress:
A Paris-made bright blue silk three piece
costume appropriate for afternoon visits. The bodice is decorated with matching silk braid
and a green tint silk fringe and tassels. A blue silk ribbon belt with two 25 inch
long decorative panels with blue silk, silk braid, ruched silk ribbon, silk tassels and
fringe. Most of the gathers of the skirt are to the back as was the fashion of this time.
Worn with the French silk dress is a pair of blue leather boots that lace up the
sides with the original laces. They have a scalloped top edge with a small one and a half
inch heel. They are lined in white linen.
A finely woven black straw circular hat is
featured without a crown [the top part of the hat that sticks up]. It is from the c.1865-70 period.
It illustrates the revival of 18th century peasant or country styles that were popular in
the late 1860s.
The young child is dressed in a 'whitework' dress
that is lavishly embroidered with 'broderie anglais'. Small designs are cut out of the
fabric and the edges are embroidered to creat wonderful patterns. The front bodice and
skirt have added tucks.
Worn with the lace dress is a rare Civil War era young girl's hat
made of natural color straw. It is decorated with the original royal blue ribbons.
It is oval in shape.
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