c.1887-89 Dress Project

I am busy finishing up my thesis! I patterened and will reproduce this stunning dress from Shippensburg University Fashion Archives and Museum (SUFAM). It belonged to Sara Boher, originally from Philadelphia, who was a member of the faculty at Shippensburg in the 1870s and 80s. She taught drawing and etymology. And, she obviously had impeccable fashion sense.

I saw this dress on display a few years ago in SUFAM's exhibit, "Nineteenth-Century Costume Treasures," and knew right then that I would have to reproduce it someday. And what better way than with a pattern drafted from the original?

I just purchased these two books by Frances Grimble to comare my patterns from this original. Perhaps I will be able to date the dress more precisely?

 

And...I finally broke down and ordered these fabulous black velvet boots from Bordello. They will be worn with the dress. In many ways, they are very similar to original shoes from the time period.