I've seen ones with bodice trim quite similar to the last one before and it always made me wonder, did they take off the other half of the trim to use for something else? without being really up close, it's hard to tell, but the asymetrical look just doesn't seem, well, normal.
No, it's meant to be asymmetrical, although usually you see the ribbon applied at an angle beginning at the armscye and dropping down toward the center front. I've seen this on a couple of originals and it can be very attractive; this one just isn't executed that well.
And the last one is differnt at the back, a box pleat right in the middle with inverted ones on either side-that's certainly different.
Actually, these are triple stepped box pleats. Each layer of the pleat is "stepped" back from the previous one. It looks like the entire skirt is pleated with just seven of these pleats. What makes this dress interesting is the combination of features that span several years. The tassels on the bodice are characteristic of the late-1850s; I've found this style sleeve on extant garments c.1861-1863; the asymmetrical trim is c. 1862-1864; and the stepped box pleats are characteristic c.1864 and later. I'd like to see this dress in person; I suspect it was altered on more than one occasion and was probably worn over a span of 8-10 years.
Regards,
Carolann
