Day dress

Day dress

This day dress has been carefully preserved by relatives of the original wearer, Marianne Maurice – seen wearing it in the painting along with a missing pelerine – for almost 180 years. Marianne lived from 1808-1840 and lived in England her entire life. The dress has the ‘collapsed’ sleeve that was popular at the time, made with tiny stitched pleats. Among the pleats at the sleeve, you can see pleats at the waistline and ruching (pronounced roo-SHING) around the bodice as well. This dress was typically worn with a pelerine, or short cape to provide more coverage at the shoulders and collarbones. The dressmaker also incorporated a fleece lining into the dress to add more volume and provide an extra layer of warmth.

about 1837

Caroline Gowers

Block printed fine wool, possibly of French origin, with fleece lining

Dress