Item No.: 18810305 SURAH EVENING DRESS Bust Size Range: 34–44 inches Pattern Source: Reproduction of original antique pattern from 1881 Harper's Bazaar

This opulent Victorian evening gown is crafted from white Surah silk, richly ornamented with cascading lace flounces, rose garlands and shirred fabric bands. Taken from an 1881 fashion plate, it embodies the elaborate aesthetic of early 1880s formal dinner and ball gowns. Featuring a full sweeping skirt and abundant layered decorations, it combines structured fitted bodice tailoring with luxurious textile embellishment. Ideal for historical costume reconstruction, period photoshoots and vintage formal events.

Bodice Structure: Front darts and intentional pleats deliver precise shaping. A detachable plastron is covered with shirred Surah silk and trimmed with lace. Left front features a button-hole fly closure. The extended basque hem is decorated with lace, shirred bands and floral adornments. Sleeves: Constructed with a full lining base, overlaid with shirred Surah silk to create soft gathered volume. Waist Detail: The pleated front basque terminations are finished with a large long-tailed Surah silk bow, forming a striking focal ornament at the waist.

The full Surah skirt is decorated at the hem with three tiers of lace flounces, each topped with a continuous rose garland. Vertical bands of evenly gathered Surah run along the front panels, anchored beneath individual rose ornaments. The rear skirt above the lace trim is shirred, accented by revers panels on both sides fixed with flower bouquets.

Pattern pieces included: Half of Plastron, Front (2 variants), Side Form, Half of Back. Sleeve construction references Fig.39 from the original supplement.

Complete historical sewing guidance covers lining pre-fitting and measurement transfer, assembly of pleated basque structure, plastron installation, lace and floral decoration layout, traditional seam pressing techniques, full boning preparation and fitting sequence, bias binding and piping methods. Critical tailoring notes help prevent fabric tension and tight fit after boning installation.

A0 full-scale printing specifications included. Print at 100% Actual Size without scaling. A 3-inch calibration test square is provided to eliminate dimensional errors caused by incorrect print settings.

⚠ Important Notice This pattern is reproduced from a private antique collection and retains original drafting imperfections. Not all patterns have been test-sewn. We highly recommend creating a muslin toile to confirm fit before cutting premium Surah silk fabric. Licensed exclusively for personal home sewing and non-commercial use. Resale, mass production and any digital or physical redistribution are strictly prohibited. Seam allowances are NOT marked on pattern sheets and must be added manually. Supplementary technical notes in parentheses derive from external research and do not belong to the original 1881 publication text, provided only as reference.