Help with dating on this nightgown? long slip?

T

Teresas Treasures

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When I got this I thought it was a 20s nightgown but now that I have it home I'm just not sure. These are rough pictures just to try and find out what it is.

Completely hand sewn, the lace is put on with a chain stitch that was done by hand. All seams, everything is hand sewn. The material is a soft golden yellow silk. As you can see the armholes are really just like slits so it is a very simple piece.

whatisthis3.jpg


more pics in next post
 
It's not like any Victorian or Edwardian shift or nightgown I have ever seen but that doesn't mean it couldn't be earlier something like a negligee from about 1910? The pleating at the top suggests it is full for the bosom, and 1920s negligees are not cut with fullness in the front - they instead go for fullness all around.
 
It was suggested that it is an Edwardian underpinning.. a chemise to go under a corset? Does that sound right? The silk is a really fine silk, the kind you touch and know it is silk. The fabric has lines running thru it.. really fine ones... maybe you can see them in the picture. And over the shoulders are just the two straps and they criss cross. I was reading that the straps would be made in a manner that they wouldn't show thru for whatever goes over top.
 
I was thinking more chemise than nightgown, but the arrangement of the straps and the open sides are unusual for a shift. It might have been made to be worn with a short sleeve evening gown.
 
I might not know much about the piece but the hand stitching is amazing. Perfect tiny stitches.

And thanks Jonathan for helping me with this. I really am just stumped. Sometimes I leave pieces like this behind because I just don't know enough to get them.
 
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