Bodice, dress bodice

Bodice from a dress made of olive green silk satin, sold at the drapers and department store James Shoolbred in Tottenham Court Road. The bodice has a high collar; elbow length sleeves; centre front closure with buttons from neck to basque. There is also a centre back bustle basque, divided to waist level. The basques are cut in one, with no waist seam. The bodice front is made of two panels with three vertical darts to each side of the front bodice, each one boned. There are two side bodice seams with no boning; and one bone at the centre back seam.

A length of broacde fabric is pleated down the length of bodice from collar to basque on either side of opening and also round the cuffs. Self brocade is ruched at the neck and also forms a bustle bow at the back. Buckinghamshire ground point lace is attached down the left hand side of bodice, hiding the opening when fastened and caught into position with four sham buckles. the same lace also trims the bustle basque and cuffs.