This came with several others that I can tell are Civil War era, and I’m guessing this photo isn’t far off that mark, either. Perhaps somebody with greater clothing knowledge can weigh in. Meanwhile, I think it’s a striking image, a strong, comfortable pose by a serious, confident woman in a simple, elegant setting. By the way, I have several others from this same photographer, but unlike some of my other recent posts comparing photos by the same photographer, the other J. P. Vail photos I have don’t look the same.
Circumference of skirt good indicator.
Yes, resources like fabric were more precious then.