Title

Blue Wedding Dress, Gown, One Piece, Silk Taffeta, Muslin

Creation Date

1865

Description

a) 1865, one piece silk taffeta gown. Lined with muslin. The taffeta is a small scale woven grid design. Metal hook and loop closure on the front of the bodice closes the gown. The sleeves are a long bell shape with teal fringe at the hem. There is small piping sewn into the armscye seams, the seam at the waist and the seams at the back of the bodice. Very full skirt, gathered at the small of the back, typical of the time period. The bottom hem is finished by turning the muslin lining up and over the raw edge. b) Matching blue check taffeta belt. The belt consists of a two fringed panels attached at the center of the belt, a large bow is sewn at the center between the two panels. The belt closes with two small, metal hook and eye closures. Most likely would have been worn with the panels at the back. c) Yoke/collar. Made from the same blue check taffeta. Triangular shape with fringe at the bottom. Would have been worn around the neckline. d-g) Two long pieces of extra trim and two scrap pieces of the blue taffeta material. h) Framed photograph of a woman wearing the dress. Medium sized, oval, wood frame. Faux carved and gilt frame. The photograph shows a woman, seated on a sofa, wearing the gown. The photograph appears to have been taken sometime in the 1960's or 1970's. The back of the frame is covered in cream colored paper. A thick hanging wire attached to the back. This gown was worn by Mary Rogers when she married Donald McCloud in July 1865. The couple married in Enniskillen, Ontario, Canada. Made by Nell [?]. The gown has a connection to the mother-in-law of the former minister at Plymouth Congregational Church. She either made the dress (Nell [?]), or wore the dress (Mary Rogers McCloud). Documentation is unclear.