Colonial costume

Description

Green silk damask dress with exposed petticoat. The ankle length dress has a square cut neckline with lace edging. The sleeves are elbow length with scalloped edges and lace decoration around the cuffs. The bodice has ten hook and loop closures up the front center panel. The dress has the appearance of an 18th century colonial style costume. The green silk overdress has three vertical decorative bands extending from the neckline to the bodice. The center band is made from a different patterned fabric. The fabric under the underarms has also been replaced with a different type of fabric. The dress has been well worn with discolorations at the neckline underarms and waist. The skirt of the overdress leaves the center panel exposed to reveal the embroidered petticoat. The cream colored petticoat is extremely worn and has multiple brown stains. The petticoat has a single button closure at the waist. The petticoat is lined with a stiff woven material. This dress may have been used as some sort of costume for special events. The entire piece has been sewn multiple times, and some parts appear to be pieced together. Attached to the dress was a swatch of fabric that appears as patches in the underarms and back bodice panel. Inside the cover of the box the dress was found in was this label: "Featuring Style Supremacy Maguire Inc. Essex Street Salem Mass. Salem's Smart Women's Shop". Handwritten on the outside of the box: "Old fashioned green dress white petticoat from Mrs. Phillips.”