Dress #126: Late Victorian riding habit in black

This hand-stitched paper ensemble is based on an English riding habit from ca. 1900, held in the John Bright Collection; it was made by royal tailors J. Simmonds & Sons of Haymarket, London. The asymmetrical skirt is designed to look elegant when riding side-saddle, though it looks quite peculiar when one is not on the horse! Trousers were worn under the skirt, to protect the rider’s modesty.

The dress is six inches tall, stitched by hand on 8x10 inch 100% cotton watercolour paper, which means that it will pop right into any commercial frame in that size, and be ready to hang on your wall.

Materials: Korean paper, glass beads, and cotton floss on cotton paper; 24.5 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8")