This black floral damask silk bodice or blouse with a wired Medici collar most likely dates from the early to mid-1910s. The fabulous, high collar is “boned” with vertical metal strips, to stand on its own, above the round neckline. A small panel of yellow-gold shiny silk, trimmed with delicate lace and teeny-tiny black velvet-covered buttons, is inset above the center front panel of plain black silk satin. This panel disguises the asymmetrical front opening of the blouse, where it overlaps on the left side and fastens with snaps. The long sleeves have small puffs at the shoulder and ruffled cuffs lined in the same yellow-gold silk. The bodice or blouse has a blouson, slightly full shape that stops just above the natural waist at a fitted, narrow waistband, with snaps to attach it to a matching skirt, I would imagine. Vertical pleats on the back of the blouse echo the pleats along the edges of the front satin panel. Underneath, the blouse has a chocolate brown cotton understructure that fastens at the center with hooks and eyes, lining the body of the bodice, but not the sleeves or collar. The gold silk panel has a separate, white cotton lining. In very good condition—remarkable for its age!—this lovely 1910s silk blouse has a few issues: some significant fraying to the gold fabric lining of the ruffled sleeve cuffs (not seen except inside), and some lesser fraying to the edge of the fabric channel encasing the wire at the outer edge of the collar. The wire in the collar edge is a bit bent/kinked, due to its long storage. The blouse is quite clean, and potentially wearable, with the care appropriate for a more than 100-year-old garment.

Size: XXS
Bust: 34” flat, but designed for loose fit. Best for 30” or 32” max.
Hem/Waist: 23” flat, to fit approx. 22”
Length: 15” from back of neck to hem
Underarm to hem/waist length: 7.5”
Sleeve length: 23.5”
Width of upper arm: 5.5” flat, or 11” around
Shoulder to shoulder: 13”
Label: none

This item is sold from a vintage boutique in Chicago, IL.