1890's Checked Dress

I finished a new 1897 dress a couple of weeks ago. It's a gold and indigo checked silk taffeta, lined with tan cotton broadcloth and has a velvet ribbon belt. I got the buckle for the belt at Costume College last summer. It also gave me a place to use the tatting I made last summer on the collar.

The design is based on a pattern from Ageless Patterns, but I didn't buy their pattern. I already had a fitted bodice, sleeve, and skirt for the period so it would have been buying the pattern just for the pleated bodice and sleeve pieces. It didn't seem worth it.



( Details and more pictures behind the cut )

All pictures were taken by Sue Burbage.