Gown

A woman's gown of bllue and white striped silk, figured with a pattern of zig-zags, flowers in baskets and small stars. The gown is open at the front with shaped, elbow-length sleeves. The bodice and skirt were cut separately and seamed together at the waist. The bodice meets at centre front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with unbleached linen; the bodice fronts and two back pieces were lined separately, then stitched together. The back is cut in two shaped pieces, narrowing to a point below the centre back waist. The skirt is made of 5 widths of silk, flat-pleated into the waistseam. There are two linen tapes at the inside waist and two sewn to the skirts, for looping them up.

The gown has been altered for fancy dress in the late 19th century. Boning was added to the bodice fronts, along with hooks and eyes. The skirt fronts were unpicked at the waist and a casing sewn to the top with drawstring, probably to enlarge the skirt. The stomacher was made a scrap of fabric although it does not fit the bodice or the hooks & eyes.