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Ensemble is dark blue velvet; bodice (A) has band collar, piped with blue satin with inner ruffle of pleated white tulle edged with lace; lace jabot around neck; sixteen silk buttons center front; princess seams; scalloped hem piped in satin forming asymmetrically draped peplum in back; long sleeves with piped and scalloped cuffs; tulle and lace ruffles inside cuffs; lined with white cotton, sleeves with white taffeta and peplum with blue satin. Skirt (B) has asymmetrically draped front panel with two under ruffles, the top with a piped and scalloped hem, the bottom, pleated; dust ruffle of two layers of pleated white cotton edged with lace; coin or watch pocket at waist; pocket at right side; hook and eye closure at right side; gathered at waist in back; fully lined in blue taffeta; two sets of cotton and elastic tape ties with boning for bustle. Jacket (C) is hip-length; princess seams, gray fur trim around band collar, cuff and hem; hook and eye closure at throat; double breasted, eight covered buttons with metal crest; fully lined with blue quilted satin; two satin inner pockets; two more buttons (with metal crest) at waist in back. Overskirt (D) is gathered at top; hooks at waist and sides to attach to skirt (loops on skirt missing); asymmetrically draped; piped and scalloped hem lined with taffeta; pleated under ruffle lined with blue glazed wool; fully lined with stiff white cotton. Bustle pad (E) is blue taffeta, square, lined with horsehair; one eye at upper left corner to attach to skirt. Muff (G) is gray fur matching trim on jacket; lined with blue satin; side opening have gray elastic drawstrings with gray silk tassels.
bodices
skirts (garments)
jackets (garments)
overskirts
bustle pads
muffs
cotton (textile)
fur
lace (needlework)
satin
scalloping
silk (textile)
taffeta
velvet (fabric weave)
Ensemble
Ensemble
Mlle Lipman of Paris made this luxurious sapphire blue velvet ensemble trimmed with chinchilla for Miss Caroline Louisa Williams French of Boston. The original bill and a photograph of one of Miss French's relatives wearing the dress in 1920 were also given to SPNEA. Along with the photographs, the donation included a program from a Suffrage Pageant in 1920, in which the participants appeared wearing dresses belonging to women who supported suffrage historically.
"Cherished Possesions": Anyone living in New England realizes that dressing in winter means dressing for warmth. A stylish few, however, somehow manage to combine warmth with elegance. This ensemble was purchased by Miss C. L. W. French of Roxbury and Boston, Massachusetts, from Mlle Lipman's establishment in Paris for the lavish sum of 1,600 francs. Miss French surely would have impressed anyone as she strolled along the Commonwealth Avenue mall or rode down Beacon Street in a sleigh.
1) stamped in ink on dress shields ""VERNA/GUARANTEED/Washable-waterproof/Timothy Smith Co./1B 2 2003"" 2) Stamped in gold on inner waistband and jacket collar: (in script ""Melle Camille Lipman/ROBES/2. Rue Droust.? Paris"" 3)Embossed on back of jacket buttons: ""SOLIDITE (shield & chevron symbol) PARIS 33"" 4)Embossed on overskirt hooks: ""NICHOLLS""
Lipman, Camille (Maker)
Gift of Nancy Olive Morison Allis
1990.507A-G
Paris (Ville de Paris department, Île-de-France, France)
Title Alice Pearse wearing a blue velvet ensemble Accession Number
Title Invoice from Mlle. Camille Lipman to Miss Caroline Louisa Williams French, 1883 Accession Number
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