Green Stripes
dress frontdress back dress front dress back

1850 style evening dress / ball gown made as one of a stripes entourage at Gaskell's Victorian dance. Several costumes with different colors of velvet striped sheer attended on the same night. Flash photography reflects off the sheer and taffeta which gives dress a different look in photos.
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Items constructed for this costume:

front back

Bodice

Olive green embroidered taffeta, boned, off-the-shoulder bodice with back lacing through buttonholes, olive taffeta pleated bertha with back hook and eye closure, ruffled manmade sheer around neckline and on puffed sleeves, same fabric oversleeves, back placket, ribbon drawstring on top, underarm/bust pads (fills in the space between underarm and bust). Sheer stripes oversleeves attached to between oversleeve and undersleeve with ribbons. Sheer ruffles pinned to bertha. Gold green sheer bows on sleeves and front and artificial flowers.
ruffle detail front detail sleeve detail
with flash:
front with flash back with flash
without stripes:
front back
Pattern: Simplicity 5724.

This pattern has very limited arm mobility. Arms end up in a down position which was very fashionable at the time. Changed the undersleeve to a gathered puff which gives a little more movement but arms still cannot be moved above the head.
skirt

Skirt

Olive green embroidered taffeta skirt with hidden side pockets, gathered set in waistband, and back hook and eye closure.
skirt

Overskirt

Green velvet stripes edged with gold on sheer fabric gathered into a drawstring skirt.
choker

Choker

Olive green taffeta choker with selvage edge trim and back hook and eye closure used with purchased necklace.


Completed: October 2006