Antique 1850s Victorian Floral Printed Day Dress, 19th Century, XS/S

Antique 1850s Victorian day dress crafted in a wool and cotton blend with a beautifully printed floral pattern. This exceptional mid-19th-century dress features striking cross-over sleeve detailing with sharply scalloped edges, double trimmed in velvet and accented with non-functional fabric-covered buttons. The shoulders are softly dropped, and the bodice is cut with a seamed high waist and interior front boning for structure.

The skirt is full and sweeping, finished with cartridge pleating typical of the period and designed to be worn over a voluminous crinoline to showcase its dramatic width. A hidden cotton-lined pocket is set into the right side of the skirt, along with cotton hem facing and an original cotton hem protector. The bodice fastens from waist to neckline with hook and eye closures and is trimmed with additional accent buttons. The bodice and sleeves are lined in cotton, while the skirt remains unlined aside from the pocket and hem treatment.

The entire garment is hand sewn, a remarkable survivor of early Victorian craftsmanship and construction.

Best Fit: XS / Small
Underarms: 35"
High Waist: 27" (recommended max waist 26")
Hip: Free
Length: 54 3/4"
Shoulder Width: 19 1/4"
Sleeve Length: 21 3/4"

For reference, the model is 5'2" with a 31 1/2" bust and 25 1/2" waist and achieved a comfortable fit with slight ease. The dress form measures 33" bust and 24" waist.

Condition: Good-, consistent with age (approximately 170 years old). Wearable with care. There are tears and patched areas to the skirt, fabric wear at the sleeve hem near the closure, and a few additional minor areas of wear. Underarm discoloration and light fabric pulling are present, along with some lightening to the fabric at the front left bust. Please enlarge images to view the most notable areas.

A rare and evocative example of an early Victorian printed day dress, well suited for collectors, study, or careful display.

Enjoy! #23-315 

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS WELCOME!
We love international customers! All international buyers will need to pay their countries CUSTOMS FEES/DUTIES as these are out of my control.

EU and NI customers: starting December 13, 2024, General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) will go into effect for all shipments. What this means for you? Unless the item is antique (100 years of age and/or older), I will not be able to fulfill your order as I DO NOT have a physical location/address in the EU.

In order to combat the high costs of International shipping, we now ship via First Class Mail International on all purchases $250 and under that are less than 4 pounds. If you prefer Priority Mail International please contact me prior to purchase.