Brown and cream striped day dress from the Civil War era
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@ National Museum of African American History and Culture
Unidentified
Description
A brown and cream striped cotton day dress from the Civil War era. The dress has a fitted collarless bodice that buttons at the center front with six (6) black vulcanized rubber buttons marked on the reverse "I.R.C. Co. / 1851. / GOODYEAR". The fitted full-length sleeves have a detail at the wrist with the fabric sewn on the bias. Self-piping is sewn at the gathered waistband, which is more heavily gathered in the back. The skirt is full with a wide hem that falls at or below the ankles. The dress is both machine and hand sewn. The bodice and sleeves are lined with a plain cotton muslin. The skirt is not lined. There is one inset pocket at the proper right hip, with the pocket made from plain cotton muslin.
Cotton Cloth With Vulcanized Rubber Buttons
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane