It’s been a busy weekend here while we gear up for an October film production as well as create some personal dresses for the Fall. Yes, it’s the first day of autumn although it’s sometimes hard to tell out here in the Southwest (although the shifting light is one giveaway). While taking a break, I cam across this amazing dress mid-1890s wrapper on the Augusta Auctions website (way too tempting, I should stick to museum websites):
Wrapper, c. 1895, Wool Paisley; August Auctions
The interesting thing about this wrapper is how it incorporates a paisley design reminiscent of the paisley shawls that were in style during the 1840s-1860s. A lot of these were later re-purposed in earlier 1870s dresses but I have never seen this with an 1890s dress design. Here’s some close-ups:
Although the August Auctions website indicates this wrapper as being from the mid-1890s, it’s safe to say that it’s probably from 1895-96 (although we’ve been wrong before). This wrapper definitely falls into the “house dress/work dress/morning dress” category in that it’s more loose-fitting, front-buttoning and made of a wool flannel-like material (but yes, the woman wearing this dress would be wearing a corset). From the bodice details and the trim strips running down the front of the wrapper and the waist, it’s evident that these elements were purpose-designed and constructed for this dress style rather than being some sort of conversion.
Turning to the skirt, we see the paisley design in its fullness and it would have very well utilized a re-purposed paisley shawl (although Adam believes that this was all new-made). Of course, without actually examining the garment in person, it’s hard to be sure one way or another… 🙂 Well, back to work but this one will definitely stay in my mind!
