Victorian Morning Dress

I am trying to find information on Victorian textiles and clothing. I have acquired from an estate auction many Victorian items but this thread is about a Victorian Morning Dress. Consisting of two corseted tops and elaborate skirt there is no cotton no taffeta just all very intricate black lace. It Had silk underskirts and lining unfortunately time has nearly destroyed the silk. The Lace however is in amazing condition. I am trying to find more information on such items or information that could send me in the right direction. I am looking for who could have worn such expensive items what the value might be today and who might would be interest.

 

Welcome Mysty.
That is some beautiful lace, nice find.
Do you mean morning as in early part of the day, or mourning because of a bereavement? Both styles of clothing exist, but because of the black lace I though you might mean mourning. In that case it wouldn't be the strictest kind of mourning with so much lace. There were several stages, with different degrees of frivolity or lack thereof.
Could you lay them out the way they would be worn? And give us the size, roughly? And some detailed pictures please, also of the lace and the seams and hems.
You didn't mention sleeves, are there none?

 

From the looks of the "corseted tops," must have been designed to be worn by the Merry Widow. Can you photograph the pieces hanging up? Hard to evaluate pieces flat. And what types of closures?

Debora

 

hook and eye closures can not hang because the integrity of the silk is gone

 

The silk is "shattered." I can't identify two tops but the one above appears to have short gathered sleeves. Is that correct? I can't see a train. Is there one? And skirt looks fairly narrow. Is that correct? To my eye, looks similar in style to this very late-Victorian evening dress.



More information here.

https://www.vintagetextile.com/new_page_121.htm

Debora

 

I did mean Mourning sorry that was typos. I have a few more pictures I can post but I have carefully boxed these pieces up and will handle them no further to spare damage. The sleeves are capped and delicate. There is also a lot boning in the bodice. The train on the back of the skirt is slight only about 6 or 7" longer than the front. If it was not damaged there would have been ruffles to accentuate the small train. The size is very small I am size one and would not come close to fitting this garment. But the corset would make a very small waist and if a woman did no lifting her shoulders would be narrow. Thank You

 

I'm betting modern bridal designers would love to get their hands on that and use it for inspiration. The skirt is gorgeous on both the OP's and the one on the mannequin.

 

Well, I think the description of your item as a "mourning" dress is incorrect. Victorian mourning fashion began in the mid-Victorian period (with the death of Prince Albert,) a good 40 years or so before your dress made its appearance and was considered old-fashioned (except by Queen Victoria) at the turn of the century.

Debora

 

Doesn't look like a mourning dress to me either. Too frivolous.
Looks like a beautiful party dress for a young girl.
Mourning dress is thousands of years old, and the custom is still observed in some parts of the world, including the Netherlands, where I live. Not my in region, but in villages where regional dress is worn and in parts of the Bible Belt. They wouldn't be seen dead in these beauties though. (excuse the pun)

 

Thank you all for your information. Hope I am able to return the favor sometime.