P3 has note
| - A woman's gown of cream coloured figure and striped silk brocaded with coloured floral springs. The gown is in the English (tight-back) style, open at the front, with elbow-length sleeves, shaped at the elbow. The bodice meets at the front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with unbleached linen. The back pleats are stitched down; the skirts finely pleated into the waistseam. The gown is made of 6 widths of silk; hemmed at the bottom.
The gown was probably made in the English style in the 1760s, and updated in style in the late 1770s. Tthe robings unpicked and opened to meet at the front. Large tucks were taken at the side seams for a smaller wearer; the sleeves similarly taken in, resewn to the bodice and the shaping added at the elbow. A length of ruching from the 1760s decoration, edged with silk gimp and floss fringe, was sewn around the neckline and the fringe added to the sleeve openings. Linen tapes were sewn either side of the back on the inside, with corresponding tapes on the side seams halfway down the skirts, in order to loop them up.
In the late 19th century, the gown was altered for fancy dress. Two strips of whalebone were inserted in the lining at centre back. A casing for boning (since removed) was added to each side of the front, along with a dart (since unpicked). (en)
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