Dress Bodice with Silk Trim

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My client requested me to only make the bodice for her and she would finish the dress herself. This is why the pictures are taken in an unfinished state.

The sleeves for this bodice are a variation of the pagoda sleeve. It is actually made in two pieces. The outside portion is gathered to the inner portion, which gives the sleeve a lovely drape. It is trimmed with bias strips of silk that have been pleated and attached to the bodice by hand. The front of the bodice you'll notice has three bows of the same silk as the trim. This was copied from an original I have in my collection and I've seen this on many other originals as well as images of the period.