Description:
Woman's two-piece dress made from a purple and gray grid-patterned, plain weave silk (taffeta). Aniline dyes, first developed in the late 1850s, paved the way for a range of reliable and inexpensive vibrant textile colors, including the bright purple seen on this garment. The dress has a banded collar; fitted princess-style bodice extending past the waist to the top of the hips and with three inverted pleats at back; buttons down center front; fitted sleeves curving for the elbows, and no cuffs. The skirt has an overskirt in front; a bustle in back; pleated skirt bottom, and a button closure in back of skirt at the waist. See also HD V.001B.

Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Cotton; Silk

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+V.114

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