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Dress, 2-Piece Catalogue number: CS*287643.001 Date: 1893-1896 Maker: F. Chabloz Description: Pink satin with woven floral design; BODICE-high neck of black velvet; two velvet rosettes attached to back of collar; center front inner closure with metal hooks-and-eyes; front has flat side panels and poofed center panel, gathered at waist and yoke; center panel fastens to bodice underneath left side panel, by means of hooks and thread eyes, at shoulder and collar; back pleated into center back waist; straight waist; applied yoke of black velvet with jet trim; large velvet rosette on either side of yoke; black lace panel hangs from each rosette on front; very large leg-of-mutton sleeves; sleeve pleated into armscye (armhole); black velvet cuff with jet trim; SKIRT-gored; center back closure; box pleats at center back waist to create fullness; waist covered with black velvet band; rosette at back waist with falling band of black velvet; skirt attaches to bodice with hooks-and-eyes; completely lined with pink taffeta; 13" band of stiffened interlining near hem; foldover hem with pink silk tape stitched to inside at hem edge; taffeta dust ruffle. Background: This dress was purchased by Louise Sheldon Adams (Mrs. Thomas Means Adams) of Ashland, Kentucky. According to the donors, Mrs. Adams had ordered the dress, but never had a chance to wear it as she died shortly thereafter. However, usually dresses of this period were not ordered from a dressmaker unless you had visited them before and they had your measurements on file. So it is likely that Mrs. Adams visited Switzerland sometime in her life. Exhibited in the Hall of American Costume from 1964 to 1973. Credit: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick van Hogendorp