The jacket an dmock bodice front are one piece, but rovide the look of two separate pieces. While the original is of wool, this suit can be made up in summer weight fabrics. It also can be made into an elegant Victorian Wedding gown. The original gown giving rise to this pattern consists of a bodice and skirt made of heavy, lustrous silk satin, known as Duchesse satin in 1899. The puffed bodice is decorated with a yoke of shirred chiffon and pearls.
Pleated chiffon is used as a trim.
This long, narrow bustle shape was used to define skirt lines during the better part of the 1870s. Many bustles were factory made but this is one of the few styles that may be easily reproduced by a home sewer. This dress should be worn with the 1873 bustle. In 1878, men wore the relatively informal sack coat, a loose fitting single breasted garment without a waist seam, for travel, business, or morning wear in the street. Distinctive characteristics include a small collar, short lapels, a fastened top button close to the neck, moderately rounded hems, flap or welt pockets on the hips, a welt pocket on the chest and a slightly baggy appearance.