Coat, pelisse

This fawn taffeta garment, which probably would have been called a 'pelisse', is a mixture between gown and coat. The bodice fastens centre front with three metal hooks and eyes but only the top half of the skirt is open. Unusually it fastens with two gold-coloured metal findings, normally used for jewellery. The decoration of the pelisse is made entirely from the same fabric: pleating in the bust area and at the shoulder area, piping at the cuffs and a plait made of stuffed rolls of fabric along the centre front and above the hem. The gown is lined throughout with glazed cotton. The garment was donated to the museum in the 1944. We do not know the identity of its original wearer.

The pelisse is displayed with chemisette 56.86/7, lorgnette NN12069 and handkerchief 25564. The hat is not contemporary to the dress and was made by Philip Treacy. The metal wig was created by Yasemen Hussein.