1860s Blue Stripe Daydress

An 1860 Victorian style day dress worn at Old Sacramento's Gold Rush event and to Gaskell's without trim.

Pattern Simplicity 3855 Comments: Skirt placket is too short and bulky or was meant for someone with much narrower hips and shoulders. Would prefer having the hook and eye tab on the inside of the skirt instead of the outside. Front skirt length ends up being about 46" long. I made 8 tucks (took up over 8"). Back skirt is longer than front. Tacked down the ribbon on the chemisette collar otherwise it would not have stayed in place. Made buttonholes for chemisette before tacking left and right front sides together. Bodice waistline had more ease than needed. Took in the side seams near waist to more match the skirt waistline measurement and to help keep bodice from riding up. Undersleeves are only safety pinned in place. Sleeves seemed 3" too long if pinned to lower seam (I had already shortened by 1.5"), pinning to armholes seam appears to work. Lines look historically correct, so it was odd that there was no piping on the edges and armsceye. No instructions on how to attach the ribbon bows on sleeve and front to match envelope photo.

Items constructed for this costume:

Chemisette

Pattern: Simplicity 3855

Bodice

Pattern: Simplicity 3855

Skirt

Pattern: Simplicity 3855