Antique Victorian 1850s Ball Gown Remade to 1880s Day Dress, Sheer Wool

Description: Ok, so this dress is absolutely amazing. It is a beautiful example of Victorian upcycling. It started out its existence being a one piece 1850s ball gown, made of a sheer, summer weight wool with a paisley motif. It is one piece and had three flounces. Entirely hand sewn, with some crazy small stitching, it is lined with polished cotton and the bodice portion is boned. I believe the boning to be whale bone. Then during the second bustle era which was 1883-1888, someone remade the dress. Using the fullness of the flounces for a new bodice, they also crafted a bustle at the back of the skirt. Only have I seen this sort of remaking of an early Victorian dress into a bustle dress on museum web sites and not very often. It is truly rare!! Unfortunately there are some good sized holes in the dress. But happily, there is quite a bit of the extra flounce fabric in the paisley pattern under the bustle panel at the back. I have taken some photos of those bits and labeled them so you can see. I had planned on repairing these holes, but never got around to it. For all of its flaws, this dress is truly an amazing piece of fashion history and has true significance where altered clothing is concerned. I displayed this dress over a bustle cage to achieve the fullness that was fashionable during the second bustle era. Please ask lots of questions for this dress!! Please see all photos for condition and any flaws. Measurements:whole dress30" bust21.5" waist50" shoulder to hem Bodice32" bust24" waist Listing for only. Table runner and Mannequin not included. This item is sold as is, as it is a vintage or antique piece. I make every effort to photograph and disclose all the flaws I notice so that you can see what you will be getting before you buy. I DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS unless I grossly mis-represent what I am selling, so please ask a lot of questions before you buy! It is on you to take note of all measurements, especially if you are planning on wearing an article of clothing. I take measurements of these items, so please check those out! My house is also home to our Rosie Dog. I make every effort to make certain there are no Rosie hairs on the products I sell. This item comes to you from a pet friendly, non-smoking home. However, I have purchased it from another person, and they may have smoked or had animals. I make every effort to sell clean, offensive-fragrance free items! I do not hold items for people. I have burned one too many times. I do however combine shipping on more than one item to save you on shipping.

Price: 350 USD

Location: Meridian, Idaho

End Time: 2024-12-25T05:45:32.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD