Lapham Dress
1880
1880
Silk
Worn by Unknown
Gift of Waveny House
Donated to the New Canaan Museum by Waveny House in April 2001, the ivory bodice and matching skirt ensemble were found in a chest of drawers during the Lapham Community Center renovation. The skirt and bodice presumably belonged to the Lapham family for over 100 years.
The cuirass bodice is form-fitting, long waisted and boned, almost giving the appearance of armor as the name suggests. It is made solely with princess seams and lacks a horizontal waist seam, hugging the wearer to create a long, slim silhouette. Additional boning helps minimize wrinkling and creasing in the fabric. The waist of the garment comes to a point below the hips on the front and back, further emphasizing the elongated form. The lack of a rigid bustle, prominent in the early 1880s, indicates a more “natural” form.
