Is it too early to start thinking about Prom dresses and formals?
This lovely little frock might have been worn by some young lady at a recital, coming-out party or first formal occasion. I say that because it is small and very demure.
The only decoration are two petite bows at the waistline in back, next to the metal zipper. I suspect that it was specially made for her by a tailor. If commercially-made, it came from a small, exclusive shop.
The dress is a very pale beige taffeta, with lace overlay on the bodice. Moderate scoop neck front and back. Ruched cummerbund waistband,semi-full skirt with attached netting crinoline.
Very proper and very lovely. I actually found another one alongside it, possibly of the same owner. It has a bit more dramatic decoration, but is very much the same and from the same era.
Can you imagine needing a dress like this every year, or maybe more than one! Did her family…
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NEVER get tired of these!
This conservative little style is very sweet, no?
It is made of a pure cotton material, I would guess, and was probably custom tailored (from looking at the details). I have at least one more dress which has cross-stitch embroidery on it but, to tell the truth, many true vintage dresses that were commercially made have lovely detail, too. And, of course, it could have been added later by the owner.
I also really love skinny, fabric-covered belts on dresses – a common feature on dresses made at this time. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll sometimes shorten a hem and make a covered belt from the extra fabric when an original belt is missing.
These dresses look nice with a cardigan sweater or a shawl, so they can go from Spring into Fall with ease. They were standard daytime wear for just about everybody back in the day. It’s so…
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This is one of my very favorite designer dress finds!
This is a really interesting find! A plain belted sheath dress with removable peplum. I encountered a photo in a hallway decoration on the cruise boat last fall that told me the year and the designer. I can’t remember the designer now – can anyone help out? It was a name that we all know.
This one was styled by Nellie Don, which made very available clothing items for women in America – not couture. Usually a year or two after styles came out in Paris they found their way into the U.S. one way or another.
It’s made of an unremarkable fabric – some kind of cotton blend in an abstract print – with a center back metal zipper. But it is an unusual length for that time – just a bit below the knee.
I was quite surprised when I discovered it, hiding in an odd little shop…
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A LITTLE HUNTING GUIDANCE FROM THE VINTAGE SLEUTH . . . .
Another of those boxes in the basement which I hadn’t thought about in a while – finds of the last 10 years stored away. It’s always fun to see what’s inside!
From the top row down, we’ll start with the DUDS, from the viewpoint of a true vintage hunter:
Pairs #1, #2 & #3 – nice to very nice classic styles in leather, 1980s at the earliest to 1990s. Pretty shoes. Ho hum. NOT vintage. But the pumps are, by today’s style standards, very retro. The navy sandals are kind of retro ’40s.
Pair #4 – True vintage late 1950s – early 1960s gold-tone all – leather stiletto pumps. For cocktails and dancing the cha-cha.
Pairs 5 & 6 – True vintage bowling shoes, 1950s – 1970s. The two-tone ones are suede.
Pair #7 – Original true vintage Dr. Scholl’s leather exercise sandals from the very early 1970s. They’ve made…
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Put on a sweater or jacket and look pretty in this one, no matter how cold it is!
Another favorite, the 50s styles with nipped waists. Love ’em! – who doesn’t – they’ve remained a fashion favorite for many years and a style that keeps on repeating itself. The wide neckline is also a favorite – SO flattering. I call it a summer dress, but the cotton material is heavy, so it’s perfect to wear almost all year.
The skirt on this one has a bell shape, too – an unusual feature that is somewhat unique. This dress was custom-tailored and the construction is very unusual. I’ve never seen anything like it. Although it zips up the back, there is also an inner bodice that hooks together. This may have been the design of the woman who sewed it – in place of a bra(?)
Sometimes you’ll find a garment like this that is as interesting on the inside as it is on the outside. The tailoring details…
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Magicvintagespy 