Featured Help me date these dresses

Hello there!

I'm back with some more gorgeous dresses. I'm going to try my best to date them and explain my reasoning and I would love some feedback to help me in the learning process.



This gorgeous wedding dress has a back zipper, so I'm guessing it was made after 1920 or 1930. My guess is 1970s? It reminds me of a gunne sax dress.

This next one I think is earlier:



The style looks very Titanic to me. I read that elastic started being used pretty early on in the 19th century so I feel like the elastic detailing could still put this in the early 20th century. I've also seen a dress from the 1910s with this textile style of devore before.

Am I close for either? How did I do?

Thank you for your help! I'm learning so much here.

 

The top one does look 1970s. Is the zipper metal or plastic? I've never seen anything like the second. Not a silhouette I recognize. Assume it was meant to be worn with an slip. How does it close? And could/would you post a close-up photograph of the beading?

Debora

 

The zipper on the first dress is metal and here are some more pictures of the second one:

 

These are both home made, aren't they? That makes the vintage of clothing more difficult to identity. Plastic zippers replaced metal in the late 1960s so it's either earlier than the 1970s (doesn't look it) or was made with an old zipper. The second dress doesn't appear to be old to my eye. That type of beading is usually associated with India but may be coming out of China now. And the hint of a strong shoulder reminds me of traditional Filipina dress. Where did you get them? And what were you told about them when you bought them?

Debora

 

Fun pieces!!
I agree that the top one looks very 70's... the cuff, that "prairie" look flounce at the bottom...

Yes, it could be for a non-U.S. market... but if I had to slot it in to U.S fashion trends:

It seems it is a bit of a puzzle. The top looks 40ish to me... the heavy beadwork and the "epaulette" at the shoulder (which I feel is very 40's - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and all) and the pleated bodice with that funky mock "shirred" waist. BUT, the skirt isn't near full enough for a 40's to me. I don't think they did much with that straight of a skirt in the 40's, as the 30's had straighter silhouettes. I don't think it is 20's as the waists were usually dropped. So IF it was made for a U.S. Market - it seems like it would be somewhere between a late 30's - mid-1940's piece.

All just a guess... I wonder if it was a wedding gown.... again a but... but, it certainly doesn't follow the trends of U.S. brides during that time frame.

Cheerio Leslie

 

That beadwork is contemporary. I suspect they're both 1970s or later but made by dressmaker in -- as above -- a non-U.S. market. If resale is your objective, I would measure very carefully as the sizes may not conform to a Western average.

Debora

 

I agree with Debora that both pieces are 1970s or later, and made by a home seamstress (or an amateur theater costumer maker). The 80’s beaded appliques are typical of those found on 1980’s Dynasty/Dallas-era dresses and sweaters (especially the pinkish rice-shaped faux pearls and the small round gold beads).

I suspect that the lace materials were taken from various sources for both dresses—possibly even lace curtains or other dresses. Have you looked at the inside of the dresses to see how they’re sewn? Are any of the seams serged (machine overcast), or do they have raw edges? Is there any hand sewing?

Without a closeup of the lace skirt on the second dress, it’s difficult to tell if the lace is antique, vintage or contemporary. Below is a photo of a piece of antique lace in a similar style that I sold last year. I'm wondering how the bottom of the lace skirt on your second dress is finished.


I've also included a photo of a dress by Eleanora Garnett, who combined an antique lace curtain panel with other antique laces. I bought it at a thrift store and thought it was a home-sewn concoction until I found the label inside (Made in Italy circa 1970s) and read the history of Eleanora Garnett.

 

Thank you all for your feedback and sorry for the late reply. You're absolutely right, they are both homemade and they were both found in France. It's amazing to me how much you are able to tell just by looking at pictures! I'm glad I was at least on track with the first one.

 

I'm often amazed by the expertise of the members here! I was very interested in the replies in this discussion.