School Suit & Blouse (retired)

The combination of a Zouave jacket (bolero-style, military-inspired-trim jackets named for the clothing worn by Algerian Zouave troops in the Italian wars c. 1859), matching high waisted skirt, and Garibaldi blouse (a front-buttoned placket blouse with high banded collar and drop-shoulder sleeves) was a popular one for women and girls during Addy's time. This outfit is a gorgeous replica of that fashion in doll size.

The School Suit and Blouse is another of AG's amazing pieces for Addy's collection. Everything about it is perfect and I'm always pleased to pull it out for Addy to wear each fall. The only frustration I have is that the pleats defy my storage capabilities and I've yet to find a way to keep it packed or even hung that doesn't result in wrinkles or a lack of crispness in the skirt.

Some more photos for this thread:















The dress does have a history of getting moth-eaten, so store it carefully. I've not had that problem since I keep my Addy collection in a trunk, but the outfit is a bit of a fuzz magnet when it's been worn for a while.

Addy's cage crinoline *could* slip under the skirt but that would not have been very practical for school wear, plus it would just barely fit and distort the skirt pleats. A nice petticoat would do the trick of fluffing out the skirt just fine, if you felt it needed it. Addy would always have worn a petticoat as it was, but I think it might be hard to close the skirt with one under it.

The pin (shown on Addy in my last photo above) is a darling replica of a real medal that carried the slogan for Abraham Lincoln's Republican party of the day: "Millions for Freedom, not one cent for slavery." It is dated 1863.

Historical accuracy and quality craftsmanship....it doesn't get any better than this. A+