Clothing.Woman's cream coloured long sleeved silk bodice. High round neckline with 4 cm stand up collar. Semi-circular yoke front and back (13cm radius). Collar and yoke have embroidered net over silk fabric. Kimono cut long sleeves have cuffs of embroidered net over silk from shoulder to wrist along top of sleeve (33cm X 4 cm). Sleeves and front of bodice have all over vertical pin tucks. The front of the bodice has cotton tape ties stitched across from centre front to side seams at waist level gathering the fabric to form a peplum effect at the front. The tails of the cotton tapes tie across the back from the side seams. Full length front opening fastened with nine press-studs between collar and waist and a metal hook and eye at the waist. The back of the bodice has vertical pin tucks across the shoulders and below the yoke extending 9 cm below the yoke.costume, female, woman's cream coloured silk bodice

Clothing. Cream silk woman's bed jacket with cap sleeves trimmed with 2cm cream coloured scalloped lace. Sleeves embroidered with five 7mm flowers of different colours. Low scooped neckline dips to a V at centre front. Front opening and neckline edged with 2cm scalloped cream coloured lace. 6cm peplum front and back with drawstring casing connecting it to the bodice. .5cm ribbon tie through casing. Press-stud at centre front at base of neckline. Floral embroidery of wreath and scattered flowers on both sides of front bodice and at centre back below neck line.costume, female, woman's bed jacket

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. 1880s women's dress featured tightly fitting bodices with very narrow sleeves and high necklines, often trimmed at the wrists with white frills or lace. This example may have had its sleeves removed post construction.Grey coloured silk taffeta, ‘tailed’ woman’s waistcoat with cream silk panels. It would appear that the sleeves have been removed. women's clothing, fashion - melbourne - 1880s, bodices, vests