Custom 100% Cotton Civil War Yoked Bodice Day Dress

Description

Cheaper is not always saving you money when it comes to authentic period reproductions... as you learn more you have to keep upgrading... unless...
Here is the clothing you can trust not to have to "improve' next season. The dress you are bidding on is a
custom made and guarnteed to fit
dress designed by me, Robin Stokes and guaranteed to be as accurate as 21st century materials can make it.
It is a museum quality reproduction of a yoked (front and back) bodice cotton day dress of the Civil War era.
My dresses are never made from commercial patterns, instead I draft them from original garments.... that is what separates the true dressmaker from the seamstress who's limited skills only alow them to use commercial patterns (and have to trust in someone else's research.)
I have taught Civil War clothing construction in
Gettysburg
and am the first place winner of multiple N-SSA clothing competitions including the coveted Delany. My clothing has been featured in various museum exhibits including the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA. Steadfast attention to detail in the construction of this dress is what elevates it to a piece of period clothing not a costume. It would be a wonderful addition to any Civil War reenactor's wardrobe.
Construction details that separate this dress from what is commonly available include:
- Correct size piping using the fashion fabric only in the seams that it belongs, the waistband neckline and armscye.
- Hand gauged and hand applied skirt
- All fabrics (including lining and hem facing) used in constructing this dress are 100% cotton and of a period correct design.
- Separate fashion fabric and lining in bodice construction
- hem guard
- "dog leg" opening
-
Individual hook and eyes used in the front closure (no hook and eye tape)
- Bishop sleeve with hook and eye closure, gathering in proper place at the armscye. This sleeve was drafted by me from an original dress and is not available in a commercial pattern, so you will not see it from your average seamstress.
- Yoked bodice which is quite common in original dresses, but not so much in modern reenacting because there are not commercial patterns available. That is what distinguishes a dressmaker from a seamstress... dressmakers do not need to use commercial patterns.
You supply the measurements for the dress and select the fabric from the many cotton prints that I have available (the dress that is shown is a sample and the fabric pattern that it is made from is no longer available). Check with me for the schedule to see how long the dress will take to make, usualy 4 to 6 weeks. Contact me if you have any questions about this auction.