Summary

Brown silk grosgrain dress with short sleeves, square front neckline and v-back and full, gored skirt.

Probably worn by Minnie Anderson (circa 1860-1951). Mary 'Minnie' Lloyd Anderson was one of five children of renowned architect Lloyd Tayler (1830-1900) and Sarah Toller. She married James Caldwell Anderson; they had a son and three daughters. The family lived at 'Mynda', 5 Molesworth Street, Kew, designed by Lloyd Tayler. She died in 1951, aged 91.

The date of the dress is an estimation, based on the square neckline, gored skirt and blouse effect with high collar.

Physical Description

Brown silk grosgrain dress with short grosgrain sleeves, cream net undersleeve and bodice insert. Grosgrain finishes in a square neckline at front and V at back. Back V edged with narrow band of brown velvet. From this neckline continues an insert of ivory machine lace & tuck pleated net. High standing collar with boning at each side in line with shoulder. Decorative silk chain stitch around top of collar. Fastening is at centre back from top of collar to lower back, measuring 705mm. Back opening has eleven metal hooks and sewn loops on inner bodice and eight metal hooks and eyes on grosgrain. Bodice decorated with wide bands, one around the waist, another across bustline and two from front waist running over shoulders to back waist. Bands are of black net embroidred with brown silk thread in a satin stitch and gold metallic thread. Front bands finished above waistband with two 35mm brown velvet buttons. Waistband finished at back with another two 35mm brown velvet buttons. Grosgrain sleeves slashed and shaped, edged with brown velvet and caught together with two 15mm brown velvet buttons. Shaped grosgrain sleeves reveal full length ivory net undersleeves. Undersleeves are fitted and self lined with outer layer entirely tuck pleated. Wrists edged in narrow band of brown velvet. 7-gored skirt with tucks at centre back waist for fullness. Two godet panels at lower centre back skirt seam, forming slight train. Skirt hemmed with a 10cm band of brown velvet. Dress skirt lined with brown polished cotton. Hem faced with 4cm band of brown grosgrain. 8cm brown silk frill attached to base of skirt lining. Inner bodice made of white cotton with boning at side seams and centre front. Exposed stay stitch from waistband visible on inner bodice.

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