1876
Dress
Cornflower blue silk taffeta and navy blue silk velvet gown. Matching blue silk fringe finishes the apron front and front hemline. Center front hook closing covered in black shaped velvet strip. Darkened lace ruffle at neck and sleeve cuffs. Faked velvet cuff trimmed in matching blue silk. Worn with silk taffeta petticoat with velvet trim.
The high contrast was indicative of the time period and the skirts were tied back to allow for promenading. The ties were underneath and were attached at the interior side seams and tied behind the legs leaving an elaborate asymmetrically draped fishtail. The fishtail on this gown does not go all the way to the ground, but when the “tail” did hit the ground there was a sturdy butcher’s linen dust ruffle underneath to protect it from the constant dragging. This fashion is called the Mermaid look.
Provenance:
Feathers, Mary, Gurleyville Rd, Storrs, CT 06268 for her mother Virginia Valentine
Construction Label:
Handmade
2012C 1876.35
Cornflower blue silk taffeta and navy blue silk velvet gown. Matching blue silk fringe finishes the apron front and front hemline. Center front hook closing covered in black shaped velvet strip. Darkened lace ruffle at neck and sleeve cuffs. Faked velvet cuff trimmed in matching blue silk. Worn with silk taffeta petticoat with velvet trim.
The high contrast was indicative of the time period and the skirts were tied back to allow for promenading. The ties were underneath and were attached at the interior side seams and tied behind the legs leaving an elaborate asymmetrically draped fishtail. The fishtail on this gown does not go all the way to the ground, but when the “tail” did hit the ground there was a sturdy butcher’s linen dust ruffle underneath to protect it from the constant dragging. This fashion is called the Mermaid look.
Provenance:
Feathers, Mary, Gurleyville Rd, Storrs, CT 06268 for her mother Virginia Valentine
Construction Label:
Handmade
2012C 1876.35