Collections record Beta

Bodice and Skirt - Dress

1971-16-30 a,b

A: Bodice is made of apple green silk covered in a layer of machine made black lace; the body is short and comes to a rounded point in the front; the collar is sewn onto the wearer's right side; the collar wraps around the neck and fastens in the back with three hook & eyes; it sits very high on the neck; the sleeves are long and tight; below the elbow the black lace is not cut to fit directly over the silk but instead it is full, creating a bubble like effect around the lower arm; the cuffs are accented with two thin stripes of black velvet; the inside of the bodice is lined with cotton; nine stays line the interior to help give the piece shape; a belt is also sewn into the center; the bodice is fastened with a series of hook & eyes closures that extend from the neck down to the waist; there appears to be a combination of machine and hand sewing B: Skirt, like the bodice, is made of apple green silk covered in a layer of machine made black lace; the lace is gathered on the front of the waist in two places; giving the lace more flower and movement; the lace is also gathered on the back of the skirt, at the waist, to create a small train of lace; the back of the dress is slightly longer than the front which allows it to have a small train; at the hem there is a layer of ruffles; the ruffle is edged with two thin stripes of black velvet; the skirt is unlined; the hem is backed with a band of dark green velvet; the skirt was fastened with a hook & eye closure at the back; it appears to have been made with a combination of machine and hand sewing

Belonged to Julia Hayes Peck, grandmother of donor

ca. 1900

• cotton
• silk