Hello, I get this in digest form so I apologize if anything I say is repetitive of something someone has already posted. There is a pattern for a similar blouse in 1906 in the Delineator: https://books.google.com/books?id=tGxJAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA1177&ots=D7FhGj19hw&dq=The%20Delineator%2C%20June%201906&pg=PA646#v=onepage&q=shirtwaist&f=false The reason it might have the overbelt and not be permanently gathered in the front is shown in a book from 1911:
http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/needlework/Text-Book-On-Domestic-Art/Shirt-Waist.html#.Vc-L2rTy8y5 Basically, it was because it was much easier to launder for the students in the era before washing machines. :-) You can use the inner belt to keep the shirtwaist from moving around and the outer belt is used to keep the pleats/gathers in place while you are wearing it. The outer belt would be hidden by the skirt and yet another belt. Hope that helps! Sincerely,Isabellahttp://www.extantgowns.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
