Historical information

This two piece outfit of bodice and skirt, was made by the donor's mother in 1908, and made mostly by hand. She wore it to Mass in 1913. The "resilda" fabric was developed in 1908 from alpaca. It was marketed as being unspottable and uncrushable.

Physical description

Two piece ensemble of bodice and skirt. Long sleeved bodice of brown 'resilda'' fabric. Long sleeves gather into a 9 cm deep cuff. Cuff has a 4 cm wide band, which is embroidered with a silk braid and floral embroidery in dark olive and a deep cream. A 5 cm deep band of floral cotton lace, in deep cream, trimmed at the edge with the braiding, completes the cuff.
The same lace forms a 6 cm deep stand-up collar, which is edged in a narrow velvet band of brown velvet. The back and front yoke is edged on the sides, with the same embroidered net as the sleeves. Braiding in a loop design underlines the bib shape, and also decorates the shoulders and upper sleeves. Sleeves are joined at the elbows, and decorated with braid.
Bodice is pleated at the lower centre front to from a V shaped fitted waist. Back has a double placket opening - the inner having ten hook and eye fasteners, the outer having three hooks and three hand made loops (as well as nine hooks and hand made loops on the back lace yoke). The full length brown skirt, with a three-quarter length over-skirt, is edged in braided embroidery. Over-skirt is attached at the waistline, with a band of tape, and separates on the left hand side waistline. It is stitched to the underskirt at the front, and edged with a 5 cm dark olive coloured braid. The braid extends around the hemline of the over-skirt in a looped pattern.
Fabric has a woven self stripe a narrow stripe of lighter colour, and a 75 mm stripe of dark grey edged with tan. The skirt is fully lined with brown cotton fabric. Centre back placket fastens with one large metal hook and eye, and six smaller hooks, and hand made cotton loops.