Helping dating antique majorette costume

[DaisyandStella]

Hi!
I have what I believe is an antique majorette costume.
The jacket is cotton velvet with metallic gold bullion threading and cotton lining.
I've attached some pics and would love any ideas on possible age.
The jacket has a nipped in waist but the elements seem older than 1940s.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Brooke

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I might place it in the 1900s, 1900-1910. Maybe 1904 ish? Not sure, just a hunch.

 

[DaisyandStella]

I might place it in the 1900s, 1900-1910. Maybe 1904 ish? Not sure, just a hunch.

Thank you Barbara!

 

[Avantbo]

Hi!
I have what I believe is an antique majorette costume.
The jacket is cotton velvet with metallic gold bullion threading and cotton lining.
I've attached some pics and would love any ideas on possible age.
The jacket has a nipped in waist but the elements seem older than 1940s.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Brooke

"Not fish flesh nor fowl but dam' good red herrings"

It's lovely but is it a Majorette Outfit or a stylized FANY Uniform, with its riding skirt, would not early Majorettes have worn trousers?

Originals were Scarlet I believe hence the phrase above but many of these outfits were made and paid for by the women themselves and weren't just deployed by the British Army to help their men. A FANY also in the yearly years had slightly differing views about the likes/dislikes of wearing such a uniform.

I thought it was old film stock, out of the stable of Angels or a Bermans clearance sale but it appears very well made for that.

In my view not British made and like Barbara 1910-1915 is about right.

Any possibility of a real good, focused shot of a button and the seams and stitching?

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

1915 is much too late for dating this. Just to be clear on my dating (see above).

 

[Avantbo]

1915 is much too late for dating this. Just to be clear on my dating (see above).

Yes to late, I agree with your dating.

 

[DaisyandStella]

"Not fish flesh nor fowl but dam' good red herrings"

It's lovely but is it a Majorette Outfit or a stylized FANY Uniform, with its riding skirt, would not early Majorettes have worn trousers?

Originals were Scarlet I believe hence the phrase above but many of these outfits were made and paid for by the women themselves and weren't just deployed by the British Army to help their men. A FANY also in the yearly years had slightly differing views about the likes/dislikes of wearing such a uniform.

I thought it was old film stock, out of the stable of Angels or a Bermans clearance sale but it appears very well made for that.

In my view not British made and like Barbara 1910-1915 is about right.

Any possibility of a real good, focused shot of a button and the seams and stitching?

Thank you - I hadn't even thought of it possibly being a FANY uniform. I'll try to take a better pic of the button and the seams and stitching.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I am leaning towards this being a costume for a Fancy Dress ball or similar occasion for a lady, with a military or naval theme. There really were no drum majorettes this early, and even if so they would not have worn trousers. It does not appear to be FANY either. The skirt looks to be a regular skirt to me, not sure if it is a riding skirt but I cannot see the details and it does not look full enough for riding side saddle.

I really like it, it is quite wonderful.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I'm not familiar with Majorettes or FANYs but looking at the garment, I see construction and style elements (puffed sleeves, slight bump to the back of the skirt, polished cotton lining) that are consistent with very early 1900s so I agree with Barbara's dating.

The back of the jacket shows indications that it has been altered, with darts added to nip that waist in. It would be helpful to recreate the shape according to the original design by measuring.

In view of the alterations, I would expect that it may not have started life with the decorative elements either. Inspection of the skirt hem will probably show that it has been shortened and perhaps that the trim is also an addition.

 

[Avantbo]

I am leaning towards this being a costume for a Fancy Dress ball or similar occasion for a lady, with a military or naval theme. There really were no drum majorettes this early, and even if so they would not have worn trousers. It does not appear to be FANY either. The skirt looks to be a regular skirt to me, not sure if it is a riding skirt but I cannot see the details and it does not look full enough for riding side saddle.

I really like it, it is quite wonderful.

BIB Which is why I think it not a majorette costume but a stylized version of a FANY uniform.

To be a real FANY uniform, regardless of colour, you are correct the riding skirt, any riding skirt of the 1900s would have been much-much fuller.

Of course the skirt might not be the jackets original one, something about the skirt doesn't quite gel.

But again it comes across as a stylized version of a uniform.

A military themed fancy dress ball costume it could well be.

While I think Barbara's dating is correct and certainly date era wise, a niggling doubt is the braiding, it is fairly bright as are the buttons.

It is not a theatrical costume but it could be period film stock but again it just looks to well made for that.

 

[thevintagebungalow]

What a great find!

 

[DaisyandStella]

"Not fish flesh nor fowl but dam' good red herrings"

It's lovely but is it a Majorette Outfit or a stylized FANY Uniform, with its riding skirt, would not early Majorettes have worn trousers?

Originals were Scarlet I believe hence the phrase above but many of these outfits were made and paid for by the women themselves and weren't just deployed by the British Army to help their men. A FANY also in the yearly years had slightly differing views about the likes/dislikes of wearing such a uniform.

I thought it was old film stock, out of the stable of Angels or a Bermans clearance sale but it appears very well made for that.

In my view not British made and like Barbara 1910-1915 is about right.

Any possibility of a real good, focused shot of a button and the seams and stitching?

Here are some more pics of the buttons.

 

[DaisyandStella]

Here are some more pics of the buttons.

Some interior seams of bodice jacket - inner stitching to midriff for the metallic bullion adornments. Left side two of the seams have been taken in more.

 

[DaisyandStella]

Some interior seams of bodice jacket - inner stitching to midriff for the metallic bullion adornments. Left side two of the seams have been taken in more.

Skirt also has interior stitching for metallic adornment. Hem taken up and triangle shaped center back seam.

 

[Avantbo]

I am wondering if the skirt was originally an underskirt?