Mrs. Wellington's stylish dress is made of summer-weight linen. It's ruffles, flounces and bustle would have been at the height of 1876 fashion. Especially, since she has a matching hat which includes feathers and satin ribbons. Her coordinating parasol and redicule (purse) would have completed her fashionable upper middle-class ensemble. It would have been (as was this one) designed and custom-made by a seamstress to fit her measurements. During this era in American history, there were no ready-made women's clothes or pre-made patterns such a Butterick or McCall's. The dress is actually three seperate pieces: an underskirt, an overskirt (or apron skirt) and the bodice top.

Her fashionable dress would have expressed to all, her social class status. You might be wondering how appearance alone makes such a statement? In the mid-late 19th century, linen fabric was more expensive then cotton because it had to be imported. Additionally, a dress such as this requires about 14 yards of fabric.