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| This outfit, made for a castle in Scotland, consists of a separate skirt and bodice, a corset, and an all in one petticoat. The dress is based on a photograph of a Scottish woman, taken about 1899. The whole dress is quite plain and simple, with very little decoration. The fullness of the bodice is controlled by tight pleating at the waist, which flares over the bustline. The sleeves are cut short (a few inches above the wrist), and are trimmed with two rows of narrow hand made braid. The lower edge of the bodice is also trimmed with the braid, which is barely visible in the photo - black on black sorry! The bodice fastens at the front with tiny black china buttons - these are original, antique Victorian buttons. The skirt is very plain, and is pleated onto a waistband, with the fullness at the back. This working dress is made in cotton drill. |
| The corset is based on an original design from the late 1890s. It fastens at the back with lacing, and at the front with a combination of hooks and eyes, lacing, and a buckle. The lacing at the lower part of the front is used rather than hooks and eyes all the way down, or a busk, to give greater flexibility of the fastening over the stomach. The corset also has elastic gussets inserted into the sides, to give greater comfort over the hips. The corset is made from black cotton, boned with steel, and trimmed with black cotton lace with a (just visible) ribbon insert. |
The petticoat is based on a contemporary sketch. It is made in cotton calico, trimmed with grosgrain ribbon. The double layered skirt is shaped to support the top skirt, helping to keep the fullness at the back of the waist. |
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