This is a fantastic Edwardian bodice made of a lightweight and black wool gabardine. This bodice has a high neckline that fastens with hooks and loops on the left side. The bodice is that wonderful pigeon-breasted style jacket with the bodice having a center panel that is made of cream silk and is covered in lace and velvet ribbons. This piece fastens down the left side with large snaps. The black wool is meant to look like a jacket over the silk center panel and on each side of the center panel, it is decorated with little blue velvet buttons. The jacket has super large lapels that cover most of the shoulders and are folded in at the waist where it meets the waistband. The waistband is made of a black velvet ribbon. The sleeves on this jacket are the best!!! They are long sleeves that are cuffed at the wrist and then balloon out and down in the back to form the Sleeves. The cuffs also have more tiny velvet buttons. The back is simple and just features a pleat at the center back that radiates out like a star. The bodice is fully lined in a black polished cotton and fastens down the center front with brass hooks and eyes. The bodice is also fully boned with 12 bones. This bodice was to be worn over the corset. The boning helped accent the s-bend silhouette that was popular during this time in history. My favorite part about the lining is that all the finishing was done in a baby pink thread and is such a sweet little detail and contrasts so nicely against the black. All the amazing pink stitching is done by hand!!!

Condition

This bodice is overall in wonderful condition with only one flaw. The cream silk that is backing the front pain has started to shatter, it is hard to notice and could probably be fixed easily if you just backed it with new silk. There are some stains on the cream silk as well but they are only notable from the backside. Otherwise, this bodice is in wonderful condition. There are no moth nibbles, which is wonderful. This top is just stunning and with a little work would be perfect but it is still wonderfully wearable.

Measurements

Neak: 13"

Shoulders: 13. 5"

Bust: up to 36"

Waist: up to 30"

Length: 14. 5"

Sleeves: 25"

Cuffs: 9"

This item is sold from an excellent, highly rated vintage seller in Pittsburgh, Pa.