Lester Dresses

© copyright 2000-2004, Cathy Taylor, all rights reserved. You may print this page for your personal use, but publication or redistribution in whole or in part by any means is prohibited.
		Dress 1 (left), an evocation of the styles of the 1870s, is covered in diagonal strips of dusty rose taffeta. The wide lace collar, found in an estate sale, replaces the narrow crocheted frill that was found on the neckline. Dress 2 couldn't duplicate Dress 1, but tried earnestly to imitate it.
		The back view of Dress 1 shows the unbustled princesse line and the demi-train with its coating of gray dust, which fades but never disappears. Similar, but not exact, back treatment relates Dress 2 to Dress 1.
		The pleated effect of Dress 1 is achieved with strips of taffeta, roughly cut and sewn diagonally all over the body. They stop below the shoulder, leaving the cotton lining visible. This suggests the dress originally had a wide collar, like the lace one recently added. Darts provide the little shaping visible on the bodice of Dress 1. Stubborn grease stains down the front suggest mishaps at makeup tables. Dress 2 is crisp taffeta with added nylon pieces, and the diagonal trimmings are black cotton lace rather than pleat effects.
		The linings of the two dresses show similarities in construction and even alterations. The conditions and shades of the materials suggest a difference in age. Dress 1 is solidly made, but has many visible changes. A dancing strap (a new grosgrain ribbon in place of the weakened original) hidden between the flounces can still lift the demi-train off the floor. Made of bright pink materials in a more slapdash way, Dress 2 still shows the effort to copy Dress 1, and even hides the dancing strap in the same place. Dress 2 has one long bone down the back, Dress 1 has no boning.
		The labels of Dress 1 (top) and Dress 2, different in condition, show the same logo but different edge treatments.
© copyright 2000-2004, Cathy Taylor, all rights reserved. You may print this page for your personal use, but publication or redistribution in whole or in part by any means is prohibited. To return to Quick Topics, click the close box.