Victorian Day Dress
This Victorian day dress made by Debbie Lough (of Deborah Lough
Costumes) is based on a design which appeared in the magazine
Harper's Bazaar in April 1879.
In the 1870s the bustle dropped from it's previous position at the back
of the hips, to the lower hem of the skirt, before rising back up
during the 1880s.
The dress is made in the polonaise style (of a dress worn over a
matching skirt), and has a substantial train. The dress fastens with
faceted jet buttons, and is trimmed with pleated flounces and around
30 metres of black hand beaded lace, and detachable black and purple
fabric roses. Almost 20 metres of fabric were used in the
construction of the skirt and dress.
Accessories include a silver and amethyst locket on a black velvet
choker, and amethyst, black onyx and silver screw-back earrings,
also by Debbie Lough. In addition a reproduction Victorian butterfly
brooch in silver, amethyst and marcasite is worn off centre, at the
front neckline of the dress.
The dress is worn with the correct period underwear, and the whole
outfit consists of drawers and chemise, steel boned coutil corset with
front busk, steel-hooped dropped bustle petticoat, and a trained
petticoat trimmed with black lace.
The outfit took around 75 hours to make, from the cutting of the
patterns, to the attachment of the final button.
