Dress in the style of 1884 commissioned to portray Mary Miller, the first female US steamboat captain, at the

Frazier International History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

This dress is made in the typical 1884 style, with skirts fairly flat to the front and a large shelf-like bustle

behind.  The bodice, skirt and overskirt are all made from blue check homespun cotton. 

Back of the dress showing the fall of the overskirt over the bustle. 

1886 wool and silk day dress.  This is a three-piece bustle dress with a bodice, underskirt with knife-pleated

ruffle, and draped overskirt.   Foundation garments for this look include the Cuirass style corset, chemise,

bustle-style petticoat and large stuffed bustle.

1886 day dress with wool bodice and overskirt and silk twill underskirt.

1886 day dress showing back of bustle drapery and knife pleated skirt ruffle.

1870's summer dress reproduced from a dress in the film The Age of Innocence.  This dress has a bodice with an

extended pleated back and sash.  The skirt has tiers of ruffles of alternating cotton and lace and a ruched top

section.  The bodice has embroidered collar and cuffs.  Foundation garments include cuirass corset, chemise

and ruffles petticoat, but no bustle, as this is a natural form era dress. 

1870's summer dress in the natural form era style with tied-back skirt.

1870 summer dress skirt detail with elaborate alternating lace and cotton ruffles and ruched upper skirt.

1870 summer dress back with long pleated bodice tails and satin sash.

1870s summer dress embroidered collar.

1870's summer dress embroidered lace-trimmed cuff.

1860's silk day dress.  The dress has a full skirt designed to be worn over a hoop.  The bodice has pagoda

sleeves with braided trim, designed to be worn over white cotton under-sleeves, self-fabric piping and a

removable collar. 

1860s silk day dress showing sleeve decoration.

1880 sage and plum ballgown.  This is a three-piece dress with bodice and skirt, and large butterfly train in

plum taffeta.  This is a natural form era dress and is worn without a bustle. 

1880 sage and plum ballgown

1880 sage and plum ballgown showing taffeta train detail.

1919 housedress of homespun cotton with pleated organdy collar and cuffs.  Designed based on an illustration

and description in a Sears catalog from 1919. 

1919 housedress worn with green check apron.

19th century style cotton lawn chemise with lace and ribbon trimming.

Copyright Helen Fedchak 2009.  All rights reserved.  Email info@hourglasscostumes.com