A Civil War Era Cross-Over Bodice

I have been admiring pictures of Early and Mid-Victorian dresses with a cross-over bodice.  They are unique and not seen much at Civil War reenactments.  As a matter of fact, I’ve only seen them in pictures of originals and some amazing reproductions.

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Original picture of a woman wearing a cross-over bodice, edged with white ruffles.

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From Les Modes Parisiennes, 1850.

 

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From a museum in Moscow, Russia.

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This dress sold on E-bay.

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Another example, this one with horizontal pleats.

Since I am always up for a sewing challenge, I tried my hand at making my very own dress with a cross-over bodice.

I chose a semi-sheer gray-blue cotton fabric with delicate stripes.  Vintage black lace and velvet ribbon act as an accent color.  Since I have never seen a ready-made pattern in this style, I used a Past Patterns Darted Bodice pattern as a base, and then altered it completely.  I only kept the sleeves original.

Here is my version of a dress with a cross-over bodice:

 

Reproduction Civil War Era travel linen bag

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo

 

Reproduction by SewDecadesAgo