Physical description

Cream silk satin bodice, with a high round neckline, finished with a seven cm deep, cream lace, boned, mandarin stand up collar - five bones-(one missing) to support the collar. Nine 16cm bones support the shaping of the tapered firmly fitted waist. A ten cm deep yoke at front and back shoulders. Below the yoke is a panel of eleven cm long pintucks right across the front, and on either side of the back. Centre front gathers into a cotton tape band at the waistline. Below the neckline of the centre front, is a panel ten cm deep of cotton lace, then a 13cm deep fine silk, gathered frill, edged with a reinforced silk ruffle. The centre back opening has a double placket, each fastening with alternate hook and eye,hook on either side of opening. Two large hooks facilitate a joining with a skirt.The three quarter length satin sleeves, are a bell shape, and gather into a cream net, eight cm deep band, which fastens with two metal hooks and hand made loops. Over the net is a double frill, 13 cm deep, and edged with a reinforced silk ruffle, as in the centre front panel. This bishop-type sleeve has five X 12cm long pintucks at the shoulderline. A ten cm long row of a feather stitch type of hand embroidery on either side of front bodice-one each side of the gathered centre front panel. Bodice is fully lined with polished cotton.