Dress, 1884-1886
Bodice and skirt of cotton, woven with narrow stripes of light blue, dark blue and pink and narrower stripes of red, yellow, blue and white; boned bodice features high, round neck with short standing collar and double lace frill, fastening centre front with hook and eye and twelve mother-of-pearl buttons; watch pocket stitched to inside left front panel, concealed under right side front; long sleeves with double lace frill at cuffs; waistband fastens centre front, with buttons each side of left side seam to attach to skirt. Separate skirt with waistband fastening centre back, two buttonholes at left to fasten to bodice; extra piece of fabric caught at sides to fall over front hips as pleated apron; five 20cm long gathered self fabric frills, each trimmed with 3 tucks, covering skirt from beneath apron to hem; ball pocket applied at right side under top frill below apron; extra piece of fabric covers back opening and creates fullness at back and fixes to waistband (fastening missing), held in place by four pairs of tapes at side, back seams tying centre back inside and three semicircular bones passing through tape loops at sides and centre and held by tape. Similar to the type of outfit worn by early female tennis players.
