This Bodice is just jaw-droppingly stunning!!!! It is made of a lush mint green silk velvet that is to die for. The bodice is from the early 1900s and has a wide-open neckline that is wonderfully adjustable for the fullness of the bust with a silk drawstring. The bodice has a wonderful shawl ruffle collar that has a lace overlay and is just so beautiful with a scalloped edge and fun little leaves. Under the lace, there is a ruffle in the velvet that is covered in the most wonderfully delicate embroidery of pastel flowers and leaves in silk floss. The ruffle is lined in cream silk to finish and keeps the embroidery safe. The velvet is styled like a jacket that has a built-in faux blouse that is made of the finest silk chiffon. It is densely gathered and has a lot of volume for such a small area. The faux blouse has tiny fastenings in the chiffon of hooks and eyes and is hidden by the wonderful lame bows. The faux bodice also has a lame faux belt. The collar runs down the side of the jacket is secured to the waist of the bodice with the most stunning button I have ever seen. It is a silver metal button with large paste rhinestones set into it. The bodice has ¾ length sleeves that are ruched and cuffs with lace and lame. There are also larger lame bows on the back of the sleeves. The back of the bodice is simpler than the front having lovely lines with all the detail being below the waist. There is a little belt detail in the velvet at the waist in the back and is set by two of the paste rhinestone buttons. The bodice has fantastic tails that hang down over the hips and are completely covered in wonderful embroidery that matches the front. The tails are also lined in cream silk.

The inside of the bodice is also quite stunning. It is lined in a cream silk and is fully bonded with, I believe, baleen. All the seams that are exposed are hand overcast and the bones are hand applied. There is the ribboned waist belt that has the label, Doeuillet, 18. Place Vendome Paris. (Georges Doeuillet opened his fashion house in 1900 and made stunning high-end and couture garments. He was a renowned designer known for his elegant taste and is a contemporary of Worth, Paquin, and Poiret.) The bodice fastens up the front with big alternating hooks and eyes under the chiffon.

Condition:

This bodice is overall in wonderful condition with some flaws that are not visible. The biggest flaw is that the lining on the bodice is shattering. Other than that flaw the bodice is in fantastic condition with only one of the rhinestones missing in one of the buttons and a small hole in the chiffon where the hook and eye are. There is also a small stain on the font in the lace. This is still a stunning and museum-quality piece of fashion history and is so beautiful.

Measurements

Shoulders: 14. 5"

Bust: 34"

Waist: 23"

Length:

(Front): 14"

(Back): 24"

Sleeves: 14"

Cuffs: 10"

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