Dress

Woman's aesthetic or reform dress and bodice in brown wool with a heavily ribbed weave. The body of the dress is cut in the Princess manner with long shaped panels from under the bust to the hem, with no waist seam. The upper part of the sleeveless dress is in brown velvet, edged with gilt braiding, and with a deep square neckline. Further braiding embellishes the Empire waist of the dress and the hem of the skirt is finished with more braiding and a ruffle of velvet. Stiffened with eleven bones covered with black silk ribbon, and arranged on the bodice darts and at the centre back opening. Fastens with black metal hooks and eyes with 'Nichols' dress fasteners, their loops over-stitched at the plaquet. Inside the right rear skirt pleat is a bag pocket supported with a black silk ribbon.

The dress is a pinafore style, worn over a matching chocolate-brown silk satin bodice with a high braided gilt collar. The body and upper part of the leg o'mutton sleeves in knife-pleated silk satin with the lower part of the sleeves close-fitting ribbed wool with braiding. Velvet band at the wrist of the sleeves. The sleeves fastens at the wrists with an embroidered brown button with a worked loop.

The whole of the bodice is mounted on a brown silk foundation, seamed and darted to shape and slightly pointed at the centre front and back waist. Fastens with black metal hooks and eyes and is faced with black silk ribbon.

The whole outfit is machine back-stitched and hand finished.