Gray Silk Evening Bodice with Lace
Dublin Core
Identifier
VC1992069
Title
Gray Silk Evening Bodice with Lace
Description
Grey silk evening bodice with lace sleeves and yoke'; grey-blue heavy silk, grey -t blue silk satin, metal boning (possibly plastic), cotton batting, lined w/ white polished cotton, lavender silk ribbon, cotton (?); black ribbon at cuffs; blue twisted cordFitted, with boning, puffed shoulders with long lace sleeves; lace yoke up to collar; pointed bottom at front and at back; one waist dart; princess seam in back; bust padding Ruched satin detail along bust front and back with lavender ribbon applique; ruched ruffles at puffed sleeves with blue cord detail; Cream buttons at back of lace yoke; laces up at CB (no laces currently); sectioned lace sleeves with black ribbon threaded through cuff tied in bow;
Date
1855-1865
Subject
Clothing and dress
Extent
36 inches (chest), 23 inches (waist), 18 inches (center front length), 21 inches (center back length), other measurements: Sleeves = 24.5
Medium
cotton
metal
silk
Type
Physical Object
Temporal Coverage
1850s
1860s
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Rights Holder
© Vassar College Costume Collection. Images in this collection may be used for teaching, classroom presentation, and research purposes only. For other reuse, reproduction and publication of these images, contact costumeshop@vassar.edu.
Costume Item Type Metadata
Source Identifier
VC1992069
Cataloguer with Date
Arden Kirkland 4/18/1993Margaret Thompson, Molly Turpin 3/3/2010
Color Main
gray
Dimensions Chest
36
Dimensions Waist
23
Dimensions CF Length
18
Dimensions CB Length
21
Dimensions Other
Sleeves = 24.5
Dimensions All
36 inches (chest), 23 inches (waist), 18 inches (center front length), 21 inches (center back length), other measurements: Sleeves = 24.5
Label
accession label sewn in
References
mcCellan, 229 (1854), 249 91862)1860-1940 Arnold, 22 (1861-4)Bomher/, 361 (1846)Collard, 16Cost Inst.: 1985.20.3a (1856), c147.64.1c (early 1860's), c163.231a (1860), c154.32.3a (1855)
Date Earliest
1855
Date Latest
1865
Gender
womenswear
Classification
costume
clothing
Category
Tops
Exhibitions
Vassar Girls and Other Women
Public Information
The interest of this bodice, at least for the purpose of this study, lies in its attempts at modesty. While the main portion of the bodice suggests a very low neckline and very short sleeves, the potential immodesty of these aspects is prevented by the addition of an inset of ivory net and lace at the neckline and of ivory net full length sleeves, which are separated into five poufs by strips of ivory lace trim. Such attempts at concealment may have been the response to an authority figure's view' of modesty, as was the case for many Vassar students in response to the edicts of the first Lady Principal MissLyman:'The Lady Principal's ideas concerning dress, which would now seem extravagantly puritanical, were held by many in her day. She considered certain fashions not so much immoral as unmoral, and issued stringent regulations concerning bodices. Low neck and short sleeves were prohibited although most young girls then wore afternoon or party gowns made in this fashion. Frequently a girl would obey the letter and evade the spirit. At the evening concerts given by the musical department, the soloists would advance to the front of the rostrum, their arms covered with sleeves of such transparent net, thatat a short distance they could perceive the sharpest vision,' (Mary Harriot Norris in The Golden Age of Vasssr, Poughkeepsie; Vassar College. 1915 pp.31-2).
Condition Term
good
Condition
inner tape at waistline has frayed, only several separate pieces remainsome yellow/brown discoloring in net/lace yoke?varied small holes in heavy silk; some abrasion on cord; heavy discoloration of lace some for grey satin; heavy discoloration of interior; laces for back closure missing
Storage Location
E3
Repository
Vassar College Costume Collection, Drama Department, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
Exhibition Notes
20grey silk faille evening bodice, 1855-18651992.69The interest of this bodice, at least for the purpose of this study, lies in its attempts at modesty. While the main portion of the bodice suggests a very low neckline and very short sleeves, the potential immodesty of these aspects is prevented by the addition of an inset of ivory net and lace at the neckline and of ivory net full length sleeves, which are separated into five poufs by strips of ivory lace trim. Such attempts at concealment may have been the response to an authority figure's view' of modesty, as was the case for many Vassar students in response to the edicts of the first Lady Principal MissLyman:'The Lady Principal's ideas concerning dress, which would now seem extravagantly puritanical, were held by many in her day. She considered certain fashions not so much immoral as unmoral, and issued stringent regulations concerning bodices. Low neck and short sleeves were prohibited although most young girls then wore afternoon or party gowns made in this fashion. Frequently a girl would obey the letter and evade the spirit. At the evening concerts given by the musical department, the soloists would advance to the front of the rostrum, their arms covered with sleeves of such transparent net, that at a short distance they could perceive the sharpest vision,' (Mary Harriot Norris in The Golden Age of Vasssr, Poughkeepsie; Vassar College. 1915 pp.31-2).
Work Type
bodice
Comments