POPPY 1883 Poppy Red Silk Velvet Tailored Polonaise Cuirass Bustle Dress with Jet Buttons - Wired Crinolette

Crimson Peak vibes!

This is a c. 1883-1884 Second Bustle Era silk velvet cuirass polonaise dress — sometimes listed as a reception dress / walking dress / redingote polonaise. It's all one piece, cut as a princess dress to look like a coat over a skirt.

Why it's 1883:

•  The date: The second bustle came back in 1883 and at the very start it was worn high and very full, with a real shelf. That's what you have. By 1886-88 the bustle dropped lower and got narrower, and heavy fabrics like velvet were the standard for it. 

•  The “one piece with three pleats” back: That's the tailored day version. Instead of the big ruffled swags for evening, this is pleated to be flat and controlled. Those three deep box pleats at the waist are sewn to release over the bustle cage. From the side it looks like a single long coat — that's intentional princess cutting.

•  two piece slit The “heavily wired”:  inside of the bustle — those little cotton tape channels with the stitch lines. That's where the steel wires were threaded to hold the shelf shape. The jutting bustle shape was supported originally on crescents of steel hidden in the skirt. 

•  The details that lock it to 1883-84: High standing collar, front button closure with the big oval jet buttons with paste centers, the gold soutache cord edging around the front, and that pagoda sleeve — tight on top, then flared and turned back to show the cream brocaded silk lining. That's all textbook 1883.

lining is cream silk brocade with the tiny  floral — that was the contrasting underskirt that showed between 

1883 Poppy Red Silk Velvet Tailored Polonaise Cuirass Bustle Dress with Jet Buttons - Wired Crinolette

It's a really good example because the velvet still has pile, the buttons are all there, and the internal wiring is intact. Most of these got cut up size xxs for a collector. It’s totally wearable but the arms are very tiny Showed on model with Boudoir Queen choker sold on another listing. Looks like the original owner was on the shorter side. Faint bleeding on the skirt but very faint. The gold needs tacking but this was owned by a collector and kept very nice! All sales final ask questions the shipping is higher on this item USA only all sales final At least 125 to ship so contact