Woman's Day Gown
PeriodCirca 1850 - 1860
Place MadeNew Jersey, U.S.A.
MediumLightweight wool challis, glazed cotton, cotton lace
Dimensions57 in. (144.8 cm)
ClassificationsCostume, Women's
Credit LineMuseum Collection
Object number1988.660
DescriptionA woman's one-piece informal or day gown of finely woven slightly sheer wool challis in a colorful pattern of horizontal stripes alternating with cream colored bands, in a red, blue, green, and yellow floral pattern.. The garment is constructed with an open V neck, front hook and eye closure, dropped shoulders and shaped three-quarter sleeves ending in gathered ruffles. A decorative vertical strip of ruched and gathered fabric is sewn along the front opening.The bodice is lined with off-white glazed cotton, and the waist portion of the bodice is gathered to the waistband. The attached skirt is full, with broad box pleats sewn to the waistband. The gown includes a cotton lace collar sewn to the neck opening as well as lace undersleeve ruffles sewn to the insides of both sleeves.NotesAlthough the wearer of this charming summer-weight day gown is currently unknown, it was most likely made and or worn in or around Monmouth County during the mid 19th century. Surprisingly, lightweight wool fabrics such as this airy and loosely woven wool challis, were popular choices for summer garments. The lack of heavy linings and the sheer quality of the fabric itself clearly indicate the dress was worn in warm weather. In addition, the one-piece construction, with a relatively loosely fitting bodice, also point to the gown's use as an informal day dress, which would have been worn for casual mornings or afternoons at home. The construction of the gown reveals that many of the long seams in the skirt as well as some of the fitted seams in the bodice were machine-sewn, while other detail seams were hand sewn.
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