Wedding dress

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This cream corded silk wedding dress dates from between around 1863 and 1864. It was made in America and consists of a separate bodice and skirt.

The waistline of the dress is tight-fitting and extends to a long point. The bust is very rounded with long, shaping darts. The bodice buttons left over right. There was probably a separate evening bodice for the bride to wear for dinners and dances in her first year of marriage.

The dress reflects the fashion for enormous skirts at this time. During the decade from 1860 to 1870, skirts increased to their fullest circumference. In fact, they reached the maximum width that was decent and comfortable to wear, even with the aid of a hoop.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-134-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  
• Date: Between around 1863 and 1864
  
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• References:
  • Tarrant, Naomi. The Development of Costume. London & New York. NMS & Routledge, 1994, pp 74-5. 
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