Possibly Victorian? Jacket and skirt ensemble

L

lorimarsha

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I found this two piece suit this past weekend...balled up with other garments in an old steamer trunk. I would appreciate any assistance in trying to date/authenticate it. I believe the fabric to be silk taffeta (moire). Any help would be great appreciated.
 
That is gorgeous--what a terrific find! I'm not fluent in that age range, but looks late Victorian or maybe very early Edwardian (?), based on what I'm seeing in my handy reference book. The closest I see to it are 1880s and 1890s, but there a few 1900-1905 things that look similar, too. What does the back of the skirt look like? I'm sure someone who knows more than me will be along to give you more accurate info!
 
from what I can see, I think 1890 - 1892. Can you post a photo of each pice in it's entirety?

Gorgeous color and fabric, by the way.

Hollis
 
Thanks for your responses. As soon as I figure out how to attach an image to a reply, I will. I have lots of detail photos.
 
Just below the last post there are three little boxes. The right one is the Post Reply, click that and you'll get to the larger reply box with the image placement option. The box at the bottom of this screen is just for quick replies.
 
It appears to be early Edwardian. Strictly speaking this is a dress and not a suit as bodices and skirts were generally separate. It would be good to see the fastenings, trim and stitching in detail. Unpick one of the bodice stiffeners (boning) and see if it is steel. Is the skirt lined?
 
There are some pics here on Lori's Flickr (scroll down just abit). Enlarge the pics and you can see quite a bit of detail.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorimarsha/

The one pic also gives you a view of the bottom of the skirt.

I'm thinking early 1900s. What a fun find that steamer
trunk must have been (was looking at your other pics on Flickr)
 
Thanks for the link to Flickr. Well, I think this might be a reproduction costume piece and not just because the label says Los Angeles - the notching in the seams and there are some new materials which could be replacements but I don't think so. The other possible give-away is the almost perfect colour matching with the fabric and the lace. That's something a costumier would do. I would say that there would likely have been some evidence of oxidation. I'd still like to know what kind of 'boning' there is and a real close-up on that lace.
 
The cut or construction as far as the pattern for the period isn't actually in question it's whether the dress is original.
 
I see what you mean vertugarde. The shot of the bodice and skirt together jars me abit and I think it is the
net/lace overlay on the bodice. The patina on the metallic
trim seems authentic, but the other lace trim (to me)
seems newer.

Very interesting. An older costume piece? That would make sense. Looking forward to reading more takes on this.
 
The construction and many of the findings look period to me. The boning, the hooks & eyes, and the seaming all match period garments I've handled.

However, the waist tape and the underarm pads look like they may be newer.

To answer some questions on Flickr, separate corsets WERE worn. However, bodices were also boned to help them maintain the correct shape, and waist tapes were used to help keep everything in the right place (the waist at the waistline, for example).

Laura
 
Here's another thought: The bodice may be mostly original - with some repairs (I agree the pads look newer) but the skirt is a later costume piece.

How many times do we find bodices with no skirt? Need to see skirt details! :)

Also -- how does that fabric *feel*? Sometimes you can get an idea of age based on the way a fabric feels and the drape or hand.

Diana
 
I think the label, which is shown above the dress on the flickr link is for another piece of clothing, not for the dress.
Is this correct?
 
I've had several bodices and dresses from this time period with similar labels, so labels aren't necessarily later additions.

I had a drop-dead all over beaded lace bodice and skirt (black, of course!) from the 1890s that actually had a local department store label on both pieces. I wish I'd taken photos of it. It sold at my shop faster than I could get pictures taken!

The only thing I can think of that I have in my inventory right now is a bodice with this label --

C0030k.jpg


Diana
 
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