Day Dress thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Fashion, Room 40

Day Dress

ca. 1858 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This eye-catching day dress formed part of the trousseau belonging to Miss Janet Gilbert. It is beautifully constructed in the latest style as would befit a young fashionable woman, although its pristine condition suggests it might not have been worn. Made of moiré silk, it has a lustrous rippled sheen accentuated by the rich Prussian blue dye, applied chenille flowers and sparkling metal buttons. Box pleated trimmings stand out in relief along the bottom edge and seams of the wide pagoda sleeves, emphasising their width. Had Miss Gilbert worn this dress, white 'engageantes', or undersleeves tacked to the armholes would have covered her lower arms and a lace collar might have decorated the neckline.

Graceful movements and a perfect silhouette were promoted by the introduction of spring-steeled hooped petticoats in 1856, often referred to as crinolines. Although frequently ridiculed in the press for their cage-like structure and size, they were also hailed as a blessing. Effective, lightweight, economical and comfortable, they ensured women could wear dresses like this one without having to contend with layers of hot and heavy petticoats.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Jacket Bodice
  • Skirt
Materials and techniques
Moiré silk, lined with silk, organdie and cotton, trimmed with chenille, whalebone and cast metal, brass, silk ribbon
Brief description
Day dress consisting of a jacket bodice and skirt made of moiré silk, Great Britain, ca. 1858
Physical description
Day dress consisting of a jacket bodice and skirt made of moiré silk.

The bodice is trimmed with chenille, fastens with metal buttons and is lined with silk, cotton and whalebone strips. High round neck, wide pagoda sleeves, and fastens down the centre front. It is waist length and has a peak front and back. The sleeves are trimmed with an applied band of gathered silk ribbon, and matching chenille rosettes with silk tassels stitched on either side of the centre front from shoulders to waist. The cast metal stud buttons are on either side of a silvered centre. A narrow double rouleau trims the neck and waist. Silk pads are stitched at the bosom. The sleeves are lined with white silk.

The skirt fastens at the centre back and is double flat pleated. It is lined with organdie and has a matching brush braid. The waist band is tucked to shape and fastens with two brass hooks and eyes. A small watch pocket is stitched into it.
Gallery label
Day dress (bodice and skirt) About 1858 Silk, no longer reserved for evening wear, absorbed new intense dyes well, and enabled volume without excessive weight. The vibrant blue of this dress was probably achieved with the mineral pigment Prussian blue, which preceded aniline dyes. Light bounces off the rippled surface of the moiré (‘watered’) silk, an effect made by passing the ribbed silk through heated rollers that flatten parts of the weave. [65] Britain Silk moiré Worn by Miss Janet Gilbert Given by Miss Janet Manley Museum no. T.90&A-1964 (November 2022)
Credit line
Given by Miss Janet Manley
Summary
This eye-catching day dress formed part of the trousseau belonging to Miss Janet Gilbert. It is beautifully constructed in the latest style as would befit a young fashionable woman, although its pristine condition suggests it might not have been worn. Made of moiré silk, it has a lustrous rippled sheen accentuated by the rich Prussian blue dye, applied chenille flowers and sparkling metal buttons. Box pleated trimmings stand out in relief along the bottom edge and seams of the wide pagoda sleeves, emphasising their width. Had Miss Gilbert worn this dress, white 'engageantes', or undersleeves tacked to the armholes would have covered her lower arms and a lace collar might have decorated the neckline.

Graceful movements and a perfect silhouette were promoted by the introduction of spring-steeled hooped petticoats in 1856, often referred to as crinolines. Although frequently ridiculed in the press for their cage-like structure and size, they were also hailed as a blessing. Effective, lightweight, economical and comfortable, they ensured women could wear dresses like this one without having to contend with layers of hot and heavy petticoats.
Bibliographic reference
Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6. This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021)
Collection
Accession number
T.90&A-1964

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Record createdMarch 28, 2006
Record URL
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