Can you help me date this item??

[Miss 1940's]

oooohhhh jeepers that looks like my dress! I just got for 10.00 smackers.....yes 10.00 smackers! I was going to wear to the Gatsby!!!!

When is it from? And is it supposed to have some ribbon tied around it's waist?

The dress is in cotton and has embroideries of flowers and small dots in white and I think it's homesewn.There are small snap?-buttons in the back. The waist is on my ribs but maybe the girl who had it had her waist there?

What should be worn underneath it? (I have a too long slip)How long should the slip be and should it have arms aswell?

Here's the embroidery:

And the waist, doesn't it looks like it should be hidden?

And do you have any ideas of what I should wear with it?

M

 

[Lauren]

Mary, the dress is just lovely. This dates from around 1915-18, judging by the cut of bodice, length of skirt, and sleeves. The style of raised embroidery (I am forgetting the technical term offhand) is familiar with the early Arts and Crafts movement and accented both fashion and home decor., though the design on yours is softer in line than what we've come to regard as true "Arts and Crafts". It may have even been from a slightly earlier period (though I'd say no earlier than 1912 by the cut of the bodice) and the skirt shortened as fashionable hem lengths changed. Dresses of this style, in a semi-sheer light cotton or linen were very popular starting around the turn of the last century until the early 1920's and are often decorated with embroidery, eyelet, and lace and were known as "wash" or "lingerie" dresses. They were most often worn in spring and summer and would be worn with white undergarments (corset cover and petticoat or princess slip over the chemise or combinations and corset) and could be accented with monotone or colored sashes or ribbons about the waist, especially around the period your dress is from. When they hit shorter, as yours does, they were often worn with white stockings and pumps. If longer, they were often worn with white boots.

At the waist, it looks like it may have originally had a peplum. I have a similar dress in my collection from this time with a wide collar and matching peplum.

It's a gorgeous dress and you look lovely in it.

 

[Lady Day]

Lauren knows everything

LD

 

[Lauren]

Hardly, but thanks!
The Edwardian/WWI period is what got me into vintage in the first place, so it's my absolute favorite still!

 

[Mary]

Thanks you so much Lauren! I'm very much in love with this dress. Now I will have to look into that period too!

M

 

[deadpandiva]

This dress was labled 1930's. I got it about 10 years ago. My friend seems to think it's 70's but I am pretty sure it's not. I may sell it so I want to know.
I think it's silk. Theres no tag. It doesn't have surged seams and I think it's cut on the bias. The back is longer than the front.

 

[Miss 1929]

This dress was labled 1930's. I got it about 10 years ago. My friend seems to think it's 70's but I am pretty sure it's not. I may sell it so I want to know.
I think it's silk. Theres no tag. It doesn't have surged seams and I think it's cut on the bias. The back is longer than the front.

It looks totally 30s to me. Especially as it doesn't have the ubiquitous serged seams of the 70s.

Is the back longer than the front when it's on a person, or only when it's on the hanger? A bias cut gown will often look longer in the back on the hanger, and then when you put it on as it stretches around you it all evens out.

The spaghetti straps are a little unusual in a 30s dress (although not unheard of), but once upon a time it probably had a matching jacket or capelet.

What size is it? I love it! probably dinky small...

 

[Sunny]

Hmm... I'm not sure. The print looks far more 70's than 30's to me, but I'm not an expert. How is the dress cut? I see some kind of bust draping, but for the rest it looks like a simple straight dress cut on the bias. 1930s dresses didn't tend to be that simple in cut, and almost always had a waist seam. Is there a zipper? Where is it, and is it metal? Is there a tag? Are the seams finished at all?

 

[lady eel]

oh yeah, that print and style is very 70's.
looks like a home made maxi dress, which are really popular right now.

 

[Lauren]

It's 30's. The give away is the side placket with the snaps and hooks. GREAT dress. These kind were extremely popular especially in around 1937-38 and would often be paired either with a matching bolero or cape or with a sheer chiffon or organza overdress in a solid- that way the print and flowers faintly showed through. Lovely! And it looks like a rayon or silk by the drape.
If it was from the 70's you could look inside for a maker's label, care tag, zipper or fastening up the back instead of the sides, and as Miss1929 said, serged seams. Those are most of the give aways that this dress would be more modern. Of course, there are makers labels in earlier garments, but they're usually woven and not printed.
Let us know if you put it up for sale

 

[deadpandiva]

It looks totally 30s to me. Especially as it doesn't have the ubiquitous serged seams of the 70s.

Is the back longer than the front when it's on a person, or only when it's on the hanger? A bias cut gown will often look longer in the back on the hanger, and then when you put it on as it stretches around you it all evens out.

The spaghetti straps are a little unusual in a 30s dress (although not unheard of), but once upon a time it probably had a matching jacket or capelet.

What size is it? I love it! probably dinky small...

It's not that small. It may still fit me but I haven't worn it because even with heels it drags the ground and I always need help getting into it. The back is a few inches longner even when it on but the entire skirt drags the ground. I think it belonged to a tall person.

 

[deadpandiva]

It's 30's. The give away is the side placket with the snaps and hooks. GREAT dress. These kind were extremely popular especially in around 1937-38 and would often be paired either with a matching bolero or cape or with a sheer chiffon or organza overdress in a solid- that way the print and flowers faintly showed through. Lovely! And it looks like a rayon or silk by the drape.
If it was from the 70's you could look inside for a maker's label, care tag, zipper or fastening up the back instead of the sides, and as Miss1929 said, serged seams. Those are most of the give aways that this dress would be more modern. Of course, there are makers labels in earlier garments, but they're usually woven and not printed.
Let us know if you put it up for sale

Thanks Lauren.

 

[Warbaby]

Forgive this male intrusion into the domain of the damsels, but I need help dating this dress. I picked it up for my wife, but it turned out to be a bit too large and a bit too complicated to alter, so I'll prolly put it up on eBay if it's really a 40s dress (unless someone here in the lounge wants it).

The fabric is 55% rayon/45% acetate, fairly heavy, with a twill weave. Very padded shoulders, nice pleating. Appears to have originally had a belt.

 

[Lauren]

Warbaby, your dress is a modern dress that reflects vintage styling. I'm guessing from the 1980s. I really like the cut of the front below the pocket. Very cool.

 

[alexandra]

I have two Nu-Mode dresses that I picked up at thrift stores at different times and I am also guessing 80's.

I love my dresses too though

 

[Warbaby]

Thanks for the opinions, Lauren and Alexandra. I thought it might be later than it looks, but I didn't know there were 40s revival styles being done in the 80s. I'm trying to learn vintage women's fashions, but not being a wearer of same is a bit of a handicap. Hope you all don't mind me posting a question here now and then.

 

[Miss Sis]

Deadpandiva, I'll third Lauren and Miss1929 on your dress being late 30s. They wouldn't have bothered putting in a side placket by the 70s, just a zip. Nice fabric.

I have two dresses that are that style with spagetti straps and matching boleros. They were very popular. You could always make a plain jacket to go with it by matching one of the colours in the print if you keep it.

 

[MaryDeluxe]

I found some clothes in a box I bought at auction and am wondering if anyone could give me the era for them as I am not to sure about it. I can tell you that the skirt is wool, closes with just a button and has no zipper or hooks to close the opening below the button area. The vest uses metal hooks to close with.

 

[RIOT]

Let's see.. steampunkish 1908?

 

[Miss 1940's]

Got this for the amazing price of 10.00 smackers