Ladies Antebellum Dresses

      This dress is thought of as being a Civil War dress yet it goes from pre Civil War up near the 1870's as people moved more to the west. This is a very loose fitting dress for travel west by wagon etc.

     NOTE: This dress is very full, it is NOT for women that are concerned about a small waist look. It is great for those that do not like a confining dress or are pregnant. By adding a half apron you can give the waist of this dress a more defined appearance.

     This is a camp dress. It's great to wear around camp for cooking, cleaning and chasing children around. It can be made to be plain /simply, yet we do like to add a little trim for contrast and appearance. Still it's nice to even look good, even in camp. Also very good for those that do the out back/ country re-enacting and you don't want to wear a hoop or take a chance on your nice day dresses. Although you can add a hoop and dress it up for evening wear.

     This is gathered at waist or straight cut, drop sleeves and a large (tall) ruffle at bottom. Buttons down front. Can be with straight cut sleeves with piping at wrist for pre war, or full sleeves with cuff band.

   Optional;  With wrist ruffle, straight sleeve, or full with cuff band. Round Peter Pan collar or piped around neckline. Matching tie for waist, are partial waist band added to tie in back.

    Suggest: An apron, a under hoop slip. The long padded bonnet, that is pictured below, is great when out in the sun.

     E-Mail us with color/fabric design interests.

     Measurements: Fill out Measurement Chart.

Expecting, Work or Camp Dress (0711-Homestead) Click an image below for a larger view
Sample A Front with Apron	Sample B Front	Sample B Back	Sample C Front
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.
Sample D Front with Apron	Sample D Back with Apron	Matching Quilted & Padded Bonnet

    This is  a Civil War dress, yet it is pre Civil War (Late 1850s to 1860s) and goes up into the 1870's as more women moved west

    Of the two camp/ work dresses, this one is more dressy. This is made with a waist band. Great for those that work around the camp site cooking and/ or chasing children. Also good for those back woods camping re-enacting, where as you don't want to wear your hoop are damage or dirty your fine day dresses. Yet, if you want you can add a hoop and can be ready for evening.

     It's made off the shoulder with piping at the edge and followed further down, piping again. the bodice is lined and boned. Comes with matching or contrast piping on sleeve. Above the breast it's gathered yoke to give full comfort.

     Optional; are a piped (collarless) neckline or round peter pan collar. With full sleeves or cuffs. I recommend cuffs for real wear, due to the fact, that full sleeves tend to get into things, like cooking, fire, etc. Also optional, is with the top being of a solid color and the bottom a print. Note: put in comment field if your plan on wearing a hoop and the size, for correct sizing of bottom of skirt.

    Matching or Contrasting Material Top & Skirt: Both Top and Skirt in the same Material, or contrasting.

    Suggest: bonnet, that is on the other page of camp dress and under hoop slip.

     Measurements: Fill out Measurement Chart.

Ladies Camp and Work Dress (0803-Round Dress / Pioneer) Click an image below for a larger view		Some of the fabrics on hand. Many other choices are available, including Reproduction 1800s Fabrics.
Sample A Front		Earth-Tone Light - Medium	Pink Light - Medium DD-002
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

    Custom made item, please allow 4 - 8 weeks for delivery. Custom Clothing and Uniforms are not returnable. Starting price is for cotton material and style shown, other materials, modifications, additional trim or other changes will affect the price. Rush orders MAY be available for an additional price, call us about this. A rush order reduces the manufacturing time but DOES NOT include faster shipping, for faster shipping use the shipping option on the "View Cart" page.

    Very similar to the 1848 bodice and skirt, except for single layer sleeves.  This dress is really not designed for slightly over weight people, due to the design in the bodice being very full.

     This is a 2 piece dress. The bodice/ blouse is gathered at the bottom front of a small rounded point, then flares up the front being straight and somewhat smooth near neck, with a pleat on either side near the shoulder. This is lined and boned, with piping in most of the seams of contrasting material. It can be with a stand up collar or no collar with piping around the neck. The sleeves are the cut straight sleeve of the time period, with piping around the wrist, and hook and eye. It hook and eyes up the back or button. Includes hook and eyes for you to attach the bodice to the waist band.

     The skirt is your standard skirt. Gathered or pleated . With hook in eye in back for closure.

     Suggestions; This is the corded petticoat era, although some seem to start with the 4 bone hoop, before adding the expensive of a corded petticoat. Need to decide how you want to proceed in this area.

    Collar: Stand up or piping?

    Skirt and bodice of the same material or bodice in a solid?

    Gathered or pleated?

    Extra trim ?

    Dust strip at bottom of skirt.

    Hand embroidery at the bottom of bodice/ blouse.

    Lining:  (lining being an extra $ 25.00) for skirt.

    Material color and range:

    Suggestion: Small cotton print.

    "Currently available" call for information or to order.

    We do not recommend the front picture, since we can not date the design. The skirt and bodice in the oval picture is very correct for this time period.

     The bodice/ top is with very full sleeves with no cuff. The pictures below have it as trimmed on the sleeve area, although I prefer the skirt being trim instead of sleeves. Lined and bone, with hook & eyes or buttons down front. A "V" point on the bottom of bodice. The collar is a crochet collar, yet can be with no collar or a matching or contrasting material color collar.

    Skirt can be pleated or gathered, trim or untrimmed, lined or unlined and with or without dust strip.

Ladies 1850s-1860s Skirt and Bodice - Dress # 4400: Day Click an image below for a larger view
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

    This is a 3 piece outfit, skirt and bodice /blouse, and unlike the pattern. We made modifications to correct this to fit into this time period, which include under sleeves, which has a different cut as you can tell from the pattern vs. pictures below.

     The picture of the bodice/ top has caps, at the top of the sleeves for design. The sleeves were made for the use as under sleeves, like it probably was originally. The under sleeves are detachable to remove at dusk if desired or to wear during daytime activities.

     The skirt is 3 flounces over a under skirt of heavy gathers and trim in solid cotton to have the design stand out. There is so much material used in the skirt, most don't need an over hoop slip. CAUTION: this dress SHOULD NOT be made from heavier drapery material, as the weight of the dress would be excessive. It can be made from the lighter drapery/home decor fabrics, although the weight may still exceed the capacity of a normal hoop and require a steel cage hoop.

     Collar, can be matching or contrasting.

     Suggestion; a 6 bone hoop or better.

     Material cotton (print or plaid), taffeta (taffeta needs to be found first), collar (solid, or matching), color, measurements, sleeve caps or not?  Single or just two flounces instead of three.

Ladies 1850s-1860s Never-ending Dress - # 9761: Day or Tea Click an image below for a larger view
Front	Side	Front, close-up	Front
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that  we have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.
Front	Back	Front, close-up

    Custom made item, please allow 4 - 8 weeks for delivery. Custom Clothing and Uniforms are not returnable. Starting price is for cotton material and style shown, other materials, modifications, additional trim or other changes will affect the price. Rush orders MAY be available for an additional price, call us about this. A rush order reduces the manufacturing time but DOES NOT include faster shipping, for faster shipping use the shipping option on the "View Cart" page.

     This bodice / blouse can be worn from pre Civil War up into the 1870's. This is more of your day style bodice/ blouse.

     On this bodice / blouse, the collar/ band comes slightly up the neckline. The front overlaps where the buttons go. It has the typical drop (over shoulder) full sleeves, with cuff and buttons. And is a comfortable tuck in style, for a day and tea outfit. We like to have the option to trim as we see fit, for the best over all look. This one has two rows of trim down each side of the front, a row of trim around the collar and down the shoulder seam. Then finished off with piping around the arm holes. The buttons used are dime sized covered in contrasting color.

     You can choose to have a round collar, like the Peter Pan collar style, or like the one shown. You can choose if you want piping or not and if you want covered buttons or a natural button in contrasting color or a color to match the material. The width of the cuffs can also be selected. Also this would look good with matching material, since skirts and bodice/ blouses were  to look like dresses and visa versa on dresses. And if fichu is desired, a contrast solid color or matching.

     A solid color bodice/blouse can go with a variety of skirts.

     Blouse: There is NO boning and lining in this version.

     Bodice: This is the boned and lined version.

     Trim: This bodice/blouse can be trimmed for a variety of uses. It can be left plain for use for work/camp. Simple trim can be added to make a day blouse/bodice. Or fancier trim can be added for use as a tea blouse/bodice. The photo is of a blouse with fancy trim.

     Measurements for Bodice/Blouse are the bust, waist, wrist, neck, arm length and the length (neck to waist) you would like it. (Length is usually the length of today's blouses). Or even better fill out Measurement Chart.

     Materials: See general information above.

Ladies 1850s, Civil War and 1870's Garibaldi Day or Evening Bodice / Blouse Click an image below for a larger view
Blouse - Tea	Blouse - Work (Plain)	Fichu (Optional)
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

     This skirt can be worn from pre Civil War up into the 1870's. The skirt is easy. When using a plaid it's an additional $20.00 since the panels have to be rectangle and matching. This one is pleated, going from the center front back towards the back on both sides.

     Most skirts we do are gored skirts, making them gathered, which give that smaller waist look, since there is less material at the top and still gives the fullness you need at bottom for a 6 or 7 bone hoop.

     Waist has a 2" waist band, though we have other widths available. If you order fish-u "A" we suggest a 1-1/2" to 2" waist band. The waist band has stiffener and is hand stitched inside, to not show any stitching and give you that smooth look. The back has a placket for closure with one or two buttons. For those that have a boyfriend or a husband, the plackets looks a lot like the men have on their dress shirts. The hem has a finish raw edge, for you to put a 1" or more hem in yourself. If you want more of a hem, just let us know.

     There are so many designs to do skirts in, if you want to e-mail us or send a drawing or write a description of a design you'd like, feel free to.

     For ball skirt, price runs approx. $ 200.00 and it's best to e-mail with your ideas.

     Measurements for the skirt need to be the waist, and length you want it, (waist over the hip and down to the floor) and whether you wear will be wearing a 6 or 7 bone hoop. We also need your shoe heel height and your height. Or even better fill out Measurement Chart.

     Materials: See general information above.

     NOTE: The Bodice and Skirt can be purchased for $ 250.00 (as shown) if both items are ordered at same time.

Ladies 1850s, Civil War and 1870s Hoop Skirt: Day or Tea Click an image below for a larger view
Skirt #1	Skirt #1 detail	Fichu
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

    Custom made item, please allow 4 - 8 weeks for delivery. Custom Clothing and Uniforms are not returnable. Starting price is for cotton material and style shown, other materials, modifications, additional trim or other changes will affect the price. Rush orders MAY be available for an additional price, call us about this. A rush order reduces the manufacturing time but DOES NOT include faster shipping, for faster shipping use the shipping option on the "View Cart" page.

     This is the ball gown for the 1850s (1850-1857).

     Note; If you have a print or drawing you can also scan & e-mail it in for a price quote.

     Measurements; Need the measurement chart.

    Call, Write or E-Mail with your specifications, and for the measurements needed. Prices vary depending upon the amount of work and materials used.