1860s Sheer Dress

{Original Sheer Dress, Owner Unknown}

For the past two weeks I've been working on reproducing this dress for Jennie, who plays Harriet Lane at Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Wheatland was the home of President James Buchanan before and after his Presidency. His niece, Harriet Lane, was orphaned and lived there with him. She served as his First Lady in the White House from 1857-1861. Harriet was very fashionable, and her dresses were exquisite.

This dress is an original sheer dress, but did not belong to Harriet Lane. Few of her original dresses survive today. The reproduction is made of light blue cotton organdy with a blue windowpane plaid pattern. Jennie will be wearing it tomorrow when she hosts tea at the mansion as Harriet Lane. Hopefully I'll have pictures of the reproduction to post shortly!

{Original Sheer Dress, Owner Unknown}