My first attempt at a Natural Form gown from the late 1870’s. I chose a cotton-silk brocade in pale blue, and paired it with a gold silk chantung and an embroidered white organdy for the ruffles.
I used a Simplicity pattern for the basis, but had to do a great deal of altering to get it period-correct!
The bustle is attached to the bodice, but the underskirt is a separate entity.
I styled the wig myself; it is made up of three different hair-pieces, and copies a period style.
The buttons down the front are covered in the blue brocade, and are decorative; the real closure is hook and eye tape down the inside-front.