Skirt (96.50.3.B)

Dress skirt with slight train, cream silk gauze with cream silk satin underskirt. Gored panels fit the waist smoothly, with two deep pleats at center back. Waistband of cream silk satin ribbon dips to slight V-shape in front to accommodate S-bend figure.

At below-knee level (15" above hem) is an applied shirred self band, 1.25" wide encircling the skirt. Four vertical bands of self shirring extend from the waist to this band. Six lace medallions are placed around the skirt, between the bands and continuing around the back of the skirt, forming flower and leaf shapes, with a ruched gauze rosette at their center. Around the bottom of the skirt are 5 ruffles of the same net as skirt with an additional embroidered net lace edging. Of these ruffles, the top 2 are stitched/appliqued to the skirt, the bottom 3 are 1" wide self pleats.

The silk satin lining skirt is made in five gores with a 6.5" self ruffle on the exterior, and a 6.5" white cotton organdy dust ruffle on the interior. A 3" bias organdy ruffle edged with 1/2" cotton lace is sewn to the larger organdy ruffle. A bustle pad of the same organdy is sewn into the skirt at center back. Center back hook and eye closure.

Provenance Narrative The dress was found in an attic in State College, PA, but nothing further is known of its history. See bodice 96.50.3.A.

Place Made United States