Description:Purple silk day dress in purple silk with darker purple velvet decoration. Hand and machine sewn.
Bodice: separate to skirt. Front opening with 12 purple fabric covered buttons and 13 buttonholes. Velvet panel either side of opening with plaited cord on edges. Small raised velvet collar with cord at lower edge. White cotton lace on inside of collar. Small pocket on left. Back shaped, of four pieces. Two velvet panels at bottom of skirt with three buttons in between them. Velvet trim around skirt hem. Sleeves are long with ruched velvet band at top. Deep velvet cuff trimmed with purple cord. Two buttons on cuff. Lined in black and white striped cotton. Unboned. Some darts have been let out.
Skirt: narrow waistband, same material as bodice lining. Opening, left side, hook and eye fastening. Back is pleated at waist. At hip level is pleated panel with vertical rows of ruching which goes round to back. Back has small draped bustle. Wide velvet band below panel with deeper band of ruching below, Band of velvet pleated frill at hem. Bustle forms loose flap at bottom. Pocket on right, Woolen braid on hem. Inside is white cotton lining. Brown cotton tapes at back. Once had a train.
Belonged to donor's family, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.