Afternoon dress
Category
Costume
Date
1910 - 1920
Materials
Cotton, silk satin, cream silk and metal
Measurements
1400 x 1150 mm
Collection
Springhill, County Londonderry
NT 603293
Summary
Woman’s afternoon dress. Cream cotton dress with cream and black silk satin bodice and sleeves. The dress is embroidered with brown and cream cotton Cornelly machine work. The short black satin sleeves are edges with a band of Cornelly work. The V-necked bodice is constructed of plain weave cream silk. The back and sides of the bodice have been overlaid with fine plain weave cotton, which at the back is embroidered in black and cream and may have been reused from another garment (the embroidery is completely different from the skirt). There is also a separate band of embroidered muslin, the precise function of which is unclear, although it probably ties around the bodice hiding the silk bodice front and plain white cotton back. The V-neck is edged with lace and has a drawstring of cream silk ribbon. Two wide bands of silk satin ribbon extend down from the shoulder seams. Bodice fastens CF with seven metal hook-and-eye fastenings. The skirt is double layered and opens on the front of the proper left side with a metal stud and a metal hook and stitched eye.