Dress

One piece dress of silk taffeta with woven large check pattern, rose beige with lighter and darker overtones of same and cream. Brown silk fringing. Back bodice cut in three panels, the middle one 'V' shaped. Front of dress cut in two panels with pleating from shoulder seams gathered tightly at the bottom above waist seam into a small panel of smocking either side of front opening. Two bones, placed vertically inside either side of front opening. Small plain round neck without collar. Set in sleeves, 'bracelet' length, cut 'bell' shaped with three over flounces, fringe trimmed. Bodice lined with twilled khaki cotton. At waist seam small skirt 140 mm/5.5 in in depth (excluding trimming) scalloped edged with same fringed trimming. Skirt cut in eight straight panels, tightly gathered with concentration of gathers, gauge pleated, at centre back. Skirt cut longer at back than front; lined with brown silesia; woollen braid hem binding. Professionally made by a dressmaker (probably) - see the quite good finish to garment. Worn quite a lot during its original lifetime resulting now in worn hem binding and also wear in places.