Physical description

Ladies black boned bodice of brocade fabric with floral pattern. Crossover front opening with internal centre fastened with thirteen metal hooks and eyes.Crossover section fastened on LHS with seven metal hooks and eyes covered by overlapping panel. Front of bodice is decorated with dense patterns of small black beads and black sequins. There are three vertical panels of beading. The centre panel is bordered with gathered ruffles of black ribbon (one cm wide). The overlapping edges of the side panels of the bodice are edged with gathered ruffles of black ribbon. The front panels of the bodice are lined with black cotton fabric. The back of the bodice is plain. The bodice has a straight edge at waist level with a cotton tape hem. The lower section of the bodice is boned with ten fabric cased bones distributed across the front and back, attached vertically from the waistband. A fabric belt (three cms wide) is attached at centre back four cm above the waist, inside the bodice. The left hand end of the belt has a metal buckle ( 3cmX2cm). The bodice has a 7cm stand-up collar fastened above the left shoulder with three metal hooks and eyes. The collar is densely decorated with small black beads and black sequins. At each shoulder is an epaulette decorated with beads and sequins and edged with one cm gathered ribbon ruffles. The long sleeves are shaped at the elbows with four cm beaded cuffs fastened with two metal hooks and eyes. Above the cuff is a four cm fabric flounce, a row of gathered ribbon ruffle (one cm) and a three cm row of beading and sequins. Sleeves are unlined.