This dress also exemplifies other characteristics of the late 1850s. It resembles the silhouette which prevailed in the fifties, reminding some of a wide-based pyramid. The dress opens at the center front. The bodice closes with hooks and eyes underneath the three fringed toggles. The bodice and skirt are joined without a waistband, but notice how the bottom of the bodice is finished off with bias before the pleated skirt is sewn on by hand. The late fifties began the trend of controlling the volume of fabric in the skirts with pleats. The pleats are around the body of the garment but are more concentrated in the back of the dress. The skirt is lined with cambric (the brown) to help stiffen and support the skirt. This would appear to be a better dress because the skirt seems to form a slight train to the back. The waistline is rounded and still fairly close to the natural waistline.

Style | Contents | Bodice