Physical description

Long sleeved pink silk bodice lined with pink and mauve cotton fabric. Front of bodice made of pieces with a centre seam. Centre panel insert of cream coloured embroidered net narrowing from 28 cms across high neckline to 18 cms at waist. Five black velvet bows are attached vertically at centre front from below the throat, 6 cms apart. Velvet bows hand stitched to centre front. Front panel has rounded shape dipping below the waist. On either side of front insert are two wide vertical tucks Stand up collar of embroidered net (6 cms) has two pieces of wire inserted at LHS of back opening and in front of LH shoulder. Matching wire pieces on RHS are missing. Wire pieces are hand stitched in place. The bodice has a back opening fastened with six buttons and button holes plus a hook and eye at the top below the collar. One button is missing. Buttons are white with wheel spoke pattern. Strip of hemmed silk fabric is tied to the top buttonhole. Cotton lining consists of four pieces across the back and two pieces across the front with centre seam and two darts on either side. Full gathered set in sleeves from the shoulder are gathered into a tightly fitted 20 cm lower sleeve just below the elbow. The upper sleeve has a fitted lining of mauve cotton fabric shaped to the elbow and then forming the fitted sleeve along the lower arm. The fitted lower sleeves are covered with cream coloured embroidered net and have a 10 cm opening on outer edge fastened with three buttons and button holes. Hand and machine stitched.