Thank you, everyone. I found this _description_ of the gown:
http://www.eastliverpoolhistoricalsociety.org/firstladys.htm >CAROLINE SCOTT HARRISON should perhaps be one of our most interesting wives as >least for us in the DAR since she >served as our first national President. Her >National Number is 7. Some of her ancestors are buried in mill Creek Cemetery >>near Laughlin's Corners in Beaver County. >Benjamin Harrison served in the Senate before arriving at the White House, so >Caroline had learned her role as hostess >early on. She is described as serene >beauty with white hair waved back off her ears. Mrs. Harrison was very >proficient in >music and painting. It is said it was the Harrison's who >started the Christmas Tree tradition at the White House for their >grandson. >Caroline died before Benjamin finished his second term. >Her Inaugural Ball gown was typically American in fabric and design. The heavy >silver-gray silk and brocade was woven >especially for her. Four front panels >have an insertion of apricot satin veiled with lace. The collar and trimmings >are of >silver and gold band fringe. Which calls the apricot satin parts "insertion" -- reinforcing the idea that they're between, not under, the brocade. ----- Original Message ----- From: "otsisto" <[email protected]> To: "Historical Costume" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 7, 2012 3:29:50 AM Subject: Re: [h-cost] Caroline Harrison's inaugural gown I don't think that it is a petticoat under the brocade panels, looks more like insertions or panels connected to the brocade panels and pleated to look like an under skirt. Pic. with her wearing the gown. Click on pic. for a wee bit larger pic. http://www.sheribethdesigns.com/Custom-Creations.html just a tad bit bigger pic. http://tinyurl.com/9hha42u De -----Original Message----- Hi, Has anyone here seen Caroline Harrison's inaugural gown in person or close up? (here's a measly picture of it) http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&objkey=47 (here's an article about restoring it with a slightly different angle) http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/factsheet.cfm?key=30&newskey=595 I am trying to figure out if the underskirt is pleated beneath the brocade panels, or if it is only pleated between them. Also if the back panel (supporting the bustle) is stitched to the brocade panels on each side or not. The style is not unique to Mrs. Harrison -- there's a fashion plate from June of 1889 showing a gown that's got the same kind of brocade panels and intervening pleats (though no bustle, and a sleeveless bodice). So any knowledge about the style in general would be helpful, too. Thank you! Lauren Lauren M. Walker [email protected] _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
