Skirt styles began to transition in the early 1870s, as illustrated by this pale sage green basque dress. The overdress creates a heavier, double layered skirt, spreading at the back. The top layer could be gathered into a polonaise (pulled up, and to the side, to show the decorative underskirt).

For about twenty years, 1870-1890, fashionable dress included basques (fitted bodices, some short and some extending well over the hips) and skirts with various forms of back interest, known as bustles.

This dress is associated with Adelaide Sarah (Hart) Elder (1839-1904) of Portland.