SUIT
CultureLebanese
Datec. 1939
Dimensions.A: 50.5 x 70.5 cm (19 7/8 x 27 3/4 in.)
.B: 107.5 x 93 cm (42 5/16 x 36 5/8 in.)
.C: 65 x 67 x 35.5 cm (25 9/16 x 26 3/8 x 14 in.)
Object numberHF.2022.18.1a-c
DescriptionThree piece purple velvet hand-made women’s suit. The suit consists of a bodice (.A), a skirt (.B) and a cape (.C). .A has purple satin applique piece at the front center, starting narrowly just below the waist and widening as it extends to the neckline. On the left side the applique branches out in the shape of four leaves positioned above each other, and a four-petal flower near the top. The bodice as short sleeces, gathered at the shoulder and with a 3cm satin cuff. Six decorative gold buttons are located on the right side where the front panel attaches to the panel underneath with a snap closure at the bottom corners. The buttons are grouped in threes, three on the bottom half and three on the top half. On the interior edge of the front-left are six hook closures which attached to fabric loops present on the front-right side. A dart is present on each of the front panels, as well as at the back. The interior is unlined. The seams along the exterior edge are finished, while the interior seams are unfinished.
.B is a pleated A-line style skirt with wide hem (10.5cm) along the bottom edge. A 21cm long slit is present at the back center of the skirt at the waist with four circular snap closures. Sewn into the inside of the waist is a 3cm wide support made of stiff, black fabric. A hook and eye closure is present on either side of the support. The interior of the skirt is unlined. The seams at the front and back center are finished, while the seams on the left and right side are partially complete.
.C) A long velvet cape with applique on the front-left. The applique is thin in width and extends ¾’s of the length of the garment with branches of a five-petal flower at the chest, a grouping of 7 leaves in the middle, and a single leaf near the bottom. The interior of the cape is unlined with finished seams along the exterior edges and back-center. The seams at either shoulder are unfinished.
Narrative
This
suit was worn by the donor’s mother (Esma Kays) when she arrived in Charlottetown, after
travelling with the donor’s father from Lebanon. The donor’s mother wanted to
be a dressmaker when she finished school so she made many of her own clothes,
including this suit.
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