promenade gown

This lovely vintage promenade gown of grey surah is nicely decorated with black moire ribbon. The gown is so typical of the 1890's with large full sleeves and small waistline! The bodice has a high collar that wraps around the neck with a hook/eye closure. A large black fabric flower accents the back of the collar. The top edge of the collar is decorated with a tiny cream trim. This is hand basted, allowing it to easily be removed for cleaning. A matching trim encircles the sleeve edge. The bodice has a center front hook/eye closure. It is fully lined in brown cotton and is boned. The center front portion of the bodice is gathered, adding fullness to the bustline. The bodice comes to a point at the center front and back. A large material bow accents the center back of the bodice. The bodice is decorated with vertical strips of black ribbon. A large shawl collar begins in the front and wraps around the shoulders and back of the bodice. This collar is also decorated with three rows of black ribbon. The sleeves are very full at the top and taper from the elbow to the wrist. Three rows of ribbon encircle the wrist. A black petersham is intact with hooks to help hold the skirt in place. The skirt is also fully lined, with a velvet hem protector and black ruffle sewn to the lining at the hemline. The skirt falls flat in the front with some gathering at the center back. The skirt has a center back hook/eye closure. The skirt has four seams and two darts in the front and two in the back. A deep pocket is sewn into one of the front lining seams. Two hanging tabs are sewn into the waistline of the skirt. There is also a handwritten cloth piece sewn into the bodice and waistline of the skirt. The cloth has the owners name - "Wiley". The bottom edge of the skirt is decorated with four (4) horizontal rows of ribbon. This gown is in very good condition. It does have some underarm staining, but due to the size of the sleeves and the color, the staining is not readily noticeable. There is also a stain at the lower edge of the sleeve. It looks like a water stain and gain is not all that noticeable due to the coloring of the gown. There are a few small scattered holes in the bodice (moth holes??) which again are not detracting. Both the bodice and skirt are in wearable condition and the material is still sturdy. There is no shattering. Approximate measurements: bustline=32"; waistline=25"; bodice length (shoulder to waistline)=15"; skirt length=39 1/2". The shoulder width is small, so I would consider this a petite size.

This lovely vintage promenade gown of grey surah is nicely decorated with black moire ribbon.