Purple Gold Silk Brocade Bustle Afternoon Dress

Victorian Late / Bustle · 1880s · American

This elaborate afternoon dress exemplifies late Victorian bustle fashion with its distinctive two-piece construction. The fitted bodice features a high neckline with standing collar and long sleeves that taper to the wrists. The purple silk brocade displays an ornate floral pattern in gold and cream tones. The skirt extends into a pronounced bustle silhouette, characteristic of the 1880s revival of back fullness. Golden yellow silk panels create dramatic vertical emphasis down the front and back of the skirt, with additional yellow fabric forming decorative swags and trim. The construction demonstrates typical Victorian complexity with multiple fabric layers, structured internal support, and meticulous attention to surface ornamentation through contrasting textile placement.