Purple Tartan Dress

     Not long ago I watched the BBC mini-series Wives &Daughters, originally written by Elizabeth Gaskell, and fell in love with it. It's a fun little series, but definitely superior in Romantic-era fashion (late Regency to early Victorian).  One dress really caught my eye. It is a purple tartan day dress that our main character Molly Gibson wears to dinner while staying with another family.
     Many people think the dress is hideous, but I'd wear it in an instant. My goal is to re-create this dress (with a few style adjustments) this summer. I hope to wear it to the 2012 Charles Dickens Christmas Fair which I volunteer at as a Fezziwig's Warehouse dancer. It's a wonderful event and I recommend checking it out (five weekends this year! Yay!).
      Unfortunately for my dress, there are few pics on the internet, but I'm looking for more.

The colors are a lot more vibrant that these pictures show, especially the purple, but it's the best I've got for now! Must find a tartan in some silk or polished cotton that's a close fit...