Woman's Day Dress
Production date
Mid 1860s
Country
Australia
State/Province
New South Wales
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Object detail
Description
Grey silk day dress comprising of a jacket and skirt. The dress features decorative geometric features in pale grey trim throughout. The dress also features decorative tassels.
The jacket has a high collar which has been partly removed or deteriorated, long sleeves, fabric covered buttons up the front and basques which flare out at the waist. Geometric features (straight lines and zig zags) in pale grey satin trim are located on the front opening, around the back of the collar and the cuffs of the jacket. The jacket also has tassels hanging off the hem of each basque.
The skirt with waistband has a pyramid shape and features a flat panel at the front with floor length hem, while the back is gathered at the waist with a longer, rounded hem to accommodate a bustle and give the effect of a small train. The front panel of the skirt features three sets of horizontal lines and zig zags in pale grey satin trim. The two sets at the top have tassels hanging from them. The back of the skirt features two bands of three horizontal lines in the same colour trim around the middle to lower part of the skirt. The top band features a zig zag design.
The jacket has a high collar which has been partly removed or deteriorated, long sleeves, fabric covered buttons up the front and basques which flare out at the waist. Geometric features (straight lines and zig zags) in pale grey satin trim are located on the front opening, around the back of the collar and the cuffs of the jacket. The jacket also has tassels hanging off the hem of each basque.
The skirt with waistband has a pyramid shape and features a flat panel at the front with floor length hem, while the back is gathered at the waist with a longer, rounded hem to accommodate a bustle and give the effect of a small train. The front panel of the skirt features three sets of horizontal lines and zig zags in pale grey satin trim. The two sets at the top have tassels hanging from them. The back of the skirt features two bands of three horizontal lines in the same colour trim around the middle to lower part of the skirt. The top band features a zig zag design.
Classification
COSTUME Wedding woman
Production date
Mid 1860s
Production place
Media/Materials description
Silk (Textiles)
History and use
This two-piece dress consisting of a gunmetal grey silk bodice and skirt is historically significant because it represents women’s regional fashions worn during the mid to late nineteenth century in Queensland. Regional dress in Queensland during this period is understood to be diverse and complex and imparts an understanding about climate, class, occupation and demography of the person who owned and wore the clothing. Fashion during this period is distinct from everyday wear and factors such as gender, age, race, population distribution, distance from major fashionable centres such as Sydney, economic circumstances and the difficulties around acquiring dress are important aspects to consider.
This dress is an example of a woman’s day dress from the mid-late nineteenth century and most probably was worn as a best dress to attend special social events and functions. During this period, it was common practice for a woman to wear her best dress as a wedding dress and it is believed this dress was worn as such. It was also common practice for a woman to borrow a dress from a family friend or relative to wear as a wedding dress. The style of the dress indicates it was made in the mid-1860s. The large pyramid shaped skirts which were supported with crinoline had dominated the 1860s decade but by the middle of the 1860s, the bulk of the skirt began to move to the back, gradually getting flatter in the front.
This day dress was made by Farmer & Company, Victoria House on Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales. Farmer & Co was established in 1839 by Joseph Farmer and his wife Caroline and began as a drapery store. It was one of the earliest retailers in the country, second to David Jones & Co. which was founded in 1838. Farmer & Co. became one of the country’s leading and largest department stores and was regarded as an innovative and important commercial and social institution in Sydney. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, department stores became increasingly popular with the middle and upper classes as they sold a range of products including women’s fashions and accessories all under the one roof. Farmer & Co also developed a mail order catalogue service for rural and regional customers across the country.
It’s believed this day dress was worn as a wedding dress by Queensland woman, Mrs Mary Ann Whitaker nee Horsnell who lived in Ipswich during the mid-nineteenth century.Miss Mary Ann Horsnell was born in 1860, England and migrated to Queensland on board the “Alexandria” on 7th February 1875 as a young girl of 15 years with her parents Thomas Horsnell and Elizabeth Clements and four other siblings. The family resided in Laidley for some time and in 1880, when Mary Ann was 20 years of age, she married Mr Joseph Whitaker on 6th May in Ipswich of that year.
This dress is an example of a woman’s day dress from the mid-late nineteenth century and most probably was worn as a best dress to attend special social events and functions. During this period, it was common practice for a woman to wear her best dress as a wedding dress and it is believed this dress was worn as such. It was also common practice for a woman to borrow a dress from a family friend or relative to wear as a wedding dress. The style of the dress indicates it was made in the mid-1860s. The large pyramid shaped skirts which were supported with crinoline had dominated the 1860s decade but by the middle of the 1860s, the bulk of the skirt began to move to the back, gradually getting flatter in the front.
This day dress was made by Farmer & Company, Victoria House on Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales. Farmer & Co was established in 1839 by Joseph Farmer and his wife Caroline and began as a drapery store. It was one of the earliest retailers in the country, second to David Jones & Co. which was founded in 1838. Farmer & Co. became one of the country’s leading and largest department stores and was regarded as an innovative and important commercial and social institution in Sydney. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, department stores became increasingly popular with the middle and upper classes as they sold a range of products including women’s fashions and accessories all under the one roof. Farmer & Co also developed a mail order catalogue service for rural and regional customers across the country.
It’s believed this day dress was worn as a wedding dress by Queensland woman, Mrs Mary Ann Whitaker nee Horsnell who lived in Ipswich during the mid-nineteenth century.Miss Mary Ann Horsnell was born in 1860, England and migrated to Queensland on board the “Alexandria” on 7th February 1875 as a young girl of 15 years with her parents Thomas Horsnell and Elizabeth Clements and four other siblings. The family resided in Laidley for some time and in 1880, when Mary Ann was 20 years of age, she married Mr Joseph Whitaker on 6th May in Ipswich of that year.
Associated person
Registration number
H1907
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