Item No.: 18880310 WOOL DRESS TRIMMED WITH BRAID Bust Size Range: 34–44 inches Pattern Source: Reproduction of the original antique pattern from 1888 Harper's Bazaar

This late-Victorian wool gown trimmed with woven braid originates from the 1888 edition of Harper's Bazaar, embodying typical formal fashion of the late 19th century. The design integrates a Basque waist bodice, draped floor-length skirt and built-in bustle construction. It creates a pronounced S-curve silhouette with amplified volume at the rear hips and a sharply defined waist contrast. Featuring integrated structural support and abundant decorative detailing, the pattern is suitable for historical reenactment, vintage events and period formal wear.

Integrated Bustle Underskirt: Permanently attached to the foundation skirt. Stiff interfacing and curved spring steel wires at the rear hips shape adjustable rear fullness; no separate crinoline skirt required. Skirt Structure: Composed of front and back draped overskirt panels. Hip pleats on the front maintain a smooth front silhouette; upper back edges are gathered to generate extra rear volume, and side seams include functional slits. Basque Bodice & Sleeves: Tailored fitted bodice extended with Basque hem, finished with braid ornamentation arranged in vest-style layout across front and hips. Set-in sleeves feature front slits fastened with buttons. A matching collar completes the ensemble.

The sample garment uses suède-toned wool fabric, embellished with gilt-thread suède braid. The lining foundation skirt measures 2.5 yards wide at the hem, reinforced with a 5-inch matching wool facing, finished with a continuous 3-inch box-pleated flounce. The draped wool overskirt is mounted atop the foundation skirt. Decorative tab elements with stiff interfacing and braid trim are fixed onto front hip pleats. The left side seam incorporates an 11-inch walking slit.

Pattern pieces included: Front of Skirt, Back of Skirt, Decorative Tabs, Basque Bodice Front, Side Forms, Basque Back, Collar, Sleeve components.

Comprehensive historical sewing guidance covers fabric pre-shrinking, tailored hair canvas interfacing installation for bodices, pad stitching techniques, box-pleated flounce assembly, spring steel bustle casing fabrication, waistband construction, traditional seam finishing, hem buckram reinforcement and weighted cord hem production. Step-by-step instructions detail attaching the draped overskirt to the foundation skirt and installing hook-and-eye back closures.

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

⚠ 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 constructing a muslin toile to confirm fit before cutting wool fabric. Licensed solely for personal home sewing and non-commercial use. Resale, mass production and any digital or physical redistribution are strictly prohibited. Seam allowances are NOT printed on pattern sheets and must be added manually. Supplementary technical notes in brackets derive from external research and are not part of the original 1888 publication text, provided only for reference.