Victorian Fashions (wrapper dress)

[Audrey]

Lots of googling and lots of wading thru!


One of the handsomest house dresses was a black silk made in princesse shape, with transparent sleeves entirely of mordore beads, alternating with clair de lune; one side gore was also covered with this beaded trimming, while the scarf apron fronts crossed each other and were fastened on one side of the train. A bouquet of dark red damask roses with buds of the yellow tea-roses is worn at the belt of this dress. For morning dresses was one purely white wrapper of India cashmere, trimmed with marabout feathers and Mechlin lace; a second wrapper had a train of pale gray camel's-hair, with front of pink silk, trimmed with Valenciennes lace; around the train was a band of gray ostrich feathers holding pleatings of pink and gray silk.

From http://www.victoriana.com/library/harpe ... rbilt.html

Photos here of a ‘wrapper dress’ http://www.holleygene.com/wrapper.htm

I have emailed the webmaster asking for any information she may have and provided her with a link to the forum.

Many photos here of Victorian dresses and their appropriate uses. http://www.shootingstarhistory.com/codyfashion.html


1894 Tea Gown or Wrapper by Past Patterns (I may order some of these patterns and make myself a wrapper!)

It was permissible to entertain close friends at home wearing a tea gown or wrapper. The waist is drawn in snugly with a self fabric belt or wide ribbon; while the watteau pleats drape freely from the center back yoke. Multi-sized from 10-18 in one packet. from: http://www.longago.com/victorianwomen.html

This is very interesting: from: http://walternelson.com/historia/2006/0 ... apper.html

n Praise of the Wrapper

Many living history programs, which focus on domestic life in the second half of the 19th Century are faced with the dilemma of women who want to, or are supposed to be in 19th Century costume, but who are not willing or able to wear the elaborate underpinnings that go with fashionable ladies' attire, such as corsets, petticoats, bustles and the like.

Many more who are willing to give it a try lack the sewing skills required to produce one of these rather complex dresses.

There is a solution: it is called the "wrapper".

The 19th Century wrapper is a house dress. It was worn to do the hard work that was so much a part of the life of 19th Century women. Floors need to be scrubbed, cows milked, laundry washed, children chased, meals prepared etc. etc., and none of this is really possible for a woman all trussed up in a corset and bustle.

Working class women on the farm or in the tenement would frequently only have a wrapper, and not even possess a fashionable dress. Middle class women, who would wear fashionable finery to go out visiting, would wear a wrapper to do the housework. While most middle class families had maids of all work to help out, the lady of the house also did a lot of drudge work, and she did it in a wrapper.

The wrapper, interestingly enough, got more fashionable as the century progressed, so that by the 1890s, ladies were entertaining other ladies in "Tea Wrappers".


An other benefit of the wrapper for house museums and the like is that, unlike fashionable dresses which have to really fit well, the wrapper is cut very loose. It can even function as a maternity dress when you remove the belt or apron. Therefore, it is ideal to keep in stock to be issued to docents of all sizes.

An alternative name for the wrapper (which wasn't used in the 19th Century) was the "Prairie Dress".

So, I would strongly suggest for the female docent who wants to be comfortable and have a dress that's easy to make and take care of, get yourself a wrapper.

Here is the Folkwear Pattern for a typical late Century wrapper.

http://www.folkwear.com/201.html

[Audrey]

Audrey -

The wrapper is a day dress or house dress a woman wore at the turn of the century.

It was the dress that a woman coming west would have worn.

It was also the ancestor of the Hawaiian muu-muu. The missionaries dressed the native Hawaiian women in wrappers.

The wrapper was made of a printed cotton, was one-piece and belted in - long sleeved with a Peter Pan collar.

I charge $215 for the wrapper, custom made to your measurements, and in your color preference family. This includes an apron, a hat, and a tie belt.

Shipping (I prefer US Priority Mail) is extra and usually about $8.50 per outfit.

It will take me about 10 days after I receive your check.

I need the following measurements: the distance from where your neck meets your shoulder, down the front, to the top of your foot. Also, I need your biggest 'around' measurement - waist, hips, or bust.

Holley Gene Leffler
7907Solano St.
Ventura, CA 93004
(805) 659-3293

----- Original Message -----
From: The Martins
To: 123@holleygene.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:03 PM


Allo!

I am Audrey Martin and I am e-mailing via your web site.

I was wondering if you could give me a brief description of what constitutes a "wrapper dress" in Victorian times?

I am interested in the Lizzie Borden case and she stated in testimony that after the killings she changed into a 'wrapper' and me and a number of other participants of the Lizzie Borden forum are interested in this topic.

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.Com

I do appreciate any help you may be willing to give!

Thanks!

Audrey Martin






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[Kat]

Thanks Audrey!
When I looked at that "Prarie Dress" it looked like a nightgown without the apron. The apron gave it some shape.
Very interesting!

Now I wonder if Abby was wearing a wrapper that morning?
But she supposedly told Lizzie that what she was wearing was *good enough* to go to the market in, so maybe not?
But she was dusting. I don't think we discusseed whether Abby was wearing one.

[Harry]

Wow, Audrey, your finger's must be sore! Good job.

Even I, certainly no Phil Harrington, gained some knowledge.

[theebmonique]

Great find Auds !


Tracy...

[qtpiegurl77]

I never knew what a wrapper dress was either, great info!