Ladies Formal / Ball Bodices, Skirts & Dresses

Our Dresses are Custom Made

    The dresses we offer are made from authentic patterns, period photographs and drawings or modified patterns (to make them authentic or to create a dress from a drawing or photograph). There are many more patterns for reproduction dress available than we are able to show on the web site. If you have found a pattern that you would like to have a dress made from, we can most likely use it.

    To make a dress from a pattern we do not show, you need to send us the name of the pattern maker and the pattern number or send us the pattern. For dresses made from a drawing or photograph, you will need to send us the drawing/photo and as much description of the dress and time period as possible.

    If you can't find a pattern, photo or drawing of exactly what you want, we will work to your specifications. Call, Write or E-Mail to discuss what you want.

Prices

    Starting price is for cotton material and basic style shown, other materials, modifications, additional trim or other changes will affect the final price. We believe that our prices are very competitive for the quality and authenticity we offer.

Materials

    Materials range from cotton, cotton blends, woolens, silk and others in an array of colors. Dresses can be made of a solid color, a print or combination of both in complementary or contrasting colors?

    Materials will be different for a day dress, vs. riding habit vs. a formal, evening or ball / dance dress.

    You can select a color and let us pick out the style of material, to fit the occasion. You might want to consider that bodice/ blouses and skirt were to look like dresses and visa versa, so matching material for both would not be unusual.

    Pastel Colors: to use for dance or spring. Ranging from light yellow, pink, blue and etc.

    Dark Colors: Navy, medium brown to chocolate brown, greens, blues, burgundy, wine, rust and etc. (we don't suggest navy, since it fades heavily).

    Medium Colors: browns, greens, blues, rust, and etc.

    Earth tones Colors:  Cream, off white, tan's, browns, rust, etc.

Trim / Decoration

    Trims can be braid, lace and or piping in matching or contrasting color. The amount of trim and type of trim used will be done according to the style and use of the dress. We can also do some lace or crocheted collars, etc. If you have something special in mind for trim or decoration, check with us to see id we can do it.

Fit / Sizing / Measurements

    Many of the order boxes ask for the necessary measurements required for the particular dress. Not all have been updated to ask for this information. If the sizes are not asked for on the order box, it is best to fill out the Women's Measurement Chart to obtain the best fit. UNLESS the dress is to be worn by multiple people or is for display only (such as for a museum docent or mannequin), then it can / should be ordered by a standard dress size.

     The bodice/ top is .

     The skirt is.

     This dress needs to be called on, for material availability..

     NOTE;  This is the corded petticoat era, although some seem to start with the 4 bone hoop, before adding the expensive of a corded petticoat. Need to decide how you want to proceed in this area.

     Color range, material, prices and measurements. 

    Priced from: $430.00

    Call, Write or E-Mail with your interests and we will try to accommodate your needs.

Ladies 1830s Lauren Dress: Evening Click an image below for a larger view
Front	Side	Shoulder Lace	Sleeve
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

What's coming in the Future

    In the future we will be adding dresses from patterns for the 1840s. Call, Write or E-Mail with your interests and we will try to accommodate your needs.

    "Currently in development".

    This is a custom made dress for a museum. Needs to be made of very light material, and calls for a lot of material, as you can tell. Also a dress designed not for a large woman.

    The bodice/ top is very full with a gathered full curved bottom. Light lace trim around neck. There are 2 rows of satin ribbon on the edge of all the ruffles. Unseen in the picture, the dress seems to have detachable sleeves which are shown in the below pictures to take on and off when desired.

    The skirt is with 4 flounces sewn over a (under) skirt under the ruffles.

    This dress needs to be called on, for material availability. Could look very pretty in a Swiss miss with contrasting ribbon. Could also be made with no ribbon edge or replaced with lace edge. Also could be 3 flounces instead of four.

    NOTE;  This is the corded petticoat era, although some seem to start with the 4 bone hoop, before adding the expensive of a corded petticoat. Need to decide how you want to proceed in this area.

Ladies 1848 into the 1850s Fan Front Dress: Evening / Wedding Click an image below for a larger view
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

    Custom made item, please allow 4 - 8 weeks for delivery. Custom Clothing and Uniforms are not returnable. Starting price is for cotton material and style shown, other materials, modifications, additional trim or other changes will affect the price. Rush orders MAY be available for an additional price, call us about this. A rush order reduces the manufacturing time but DOES NOT include faster shipping, for faster shipping use the shipping option on the "View Cart" page.

     This is the ball gown for the 1850s (1850-1857).

     Note; If you have a print or drawing you can also scan & e-mail it in for a price quote.

     Measurements; Need the measurement chart.

    Call, Write or E-Mail with your specifications, and for the measurements needed. Prices vary depending upon the amount of work and materials used.

     The picture to your left is a 1858 ball bodice and skirt. The top has a full gathered and lace trim collar with hand made flower in center. Puff sleeves with band. With the short point for the 50s style, and buttons in back.

     The bottom skirt is with white lace and ribbon. The top/ over skirt is scooped to meet on each side of waist band with ruffles all around. The material, that doesn't show up is a seersucker with rainbow colors in pin strips. This dress could easy be carried over into Civil War do to lack of material, due to the war. Waist band that buttons in back. (See pictures below).

     Another is the bright pink cotton pin strip with cotton eyelet lace trim across in rows of the front. Contrast pink sleeve caps and arm band, that hook and eyes in back. The skirt is double, with the top being bright pink polish cotton with waist band that buttons in back.

Ball Bodice

     Note: The difference from 1850 thru the 60's is mainly the point. Further forward in time the more narrow, sharp point you had whereas in the 50's was a shorter more blunt point. As you can tell in the drawings in A & C.

     Optional is epaulets, (which are the small piece that is above the gather or pleated part of the sleeve), shown in darker pink picture, sleeve style, point size, material and rather to be a single, or double skirt or with flounces found in our never ending dress. Price will depend on style, material and how much trim/ fancy you will want. CAUTION with flounces or double skirt: this dress SHOULD NOT be made from heavier drapery material, as the weight of the dress would be excessive. It can be made from the lighter drapery/home decor fabrics, although the weight may still exceed the capacity of a normal hoop and require a steel cage hoop.

Ladies 1858 - 1860s Bodice: Formal and Ball
Sample A (left half) Plain w/Balloon Sleeves - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sample B (right half) Bertha w/Double Balloon Sleeves	Sample C (left half) Lace Trim w/ Straight Sleeves - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sample D (right half) Plain w/Drawstring Balloon Sleeves	Sample Combo (Combination of A, B & C)

Linda Gown Click an image below for a larger view
Front	Side	Top Detail / Collar
We DO NOT make identical dresses. DO NOT ask for a dress "just like" one that we  have already made. Something must be changed: color, trim, fabric design or dress pattern. Also many of the fabrics shown are no longer available. That is why we don't list specific fabric choices.

Ball Skirt

     The skirt see optional.

General, on bodice and skirt

   Material;  Can be made of cotton, drapery, taffeta or velvet, or mix. Although for drapery, suggest a good firm hoop. See optional for design in skirt. The one of the picture of the darker pink is approx. 20 years old and is made of cotton. Also the light color and white is of cotton is our newest prototype. Note, cotton is easier to take care.

   Measurements; Need the measurement chart.

   Call, Write or E-Mail with your specifications, and for the measurements needed. Prices vary depending upon the amount of work and materials used. E-mail Frances at azrahist@aol.com for any questions on this or any other dress.

    We can make Formal, Wedding, Reception and Ball bustle dresses for the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s periods. Call, Write or E-Mail with your interests and we will try to accommodate your needs.

    The dress pictured on the left is one that is already made up and ready to ship, it does not count as a "Custom Item". It is a "One of a Kind", as all of our dresses are. Click here for more information on this dress.

    Please Call, Write or E-Mail with your specifications for having a custom dress made. Prices vary depending upon the amount of work and materials used.

What's coming in the Future

    Not everything we have available is on our web site. We are adding items as time allows.

    In the future we will be adding more outfits. Some will be for periods that already have dresses up on the web site and others will be for periods not currently on the our site. For example 1835, 1840, 1857, 1876, 1884 and 1893 periods.

    We currently have done dresses not shown on our web site, some of these have been done from original pictures and/or drawings. We also have patterns for many more dresses and periods than we show.

    Call, Write or E-Mail with your interests and we will try to accommodate your needs.