hello all! came across this dress, can't quite tell when it was made / what decade the styling is based on. it appears to be handmade , seems like wool? any help would be much appreciated!
Agree with 60s on this one. If you could provide more of a close-up that would help to id the fabric.
Hi - it looks like wool or a wool blend. Could even be all synthetic. It's hard to say without feeling it or a burn test. The neckline is a scoop with a wide self bias band finish. Which has been extended down the faux front closure. All self fabric details - neckline, front edge, bow, knot buttons - were a popular finish on the 60s.
Agree with Hollis and MJ on date and fabric, although would be surprised if a summer dress was made of wool. More likely a rough weave rayon, I think but agree that a burn test is best here. As an aside, I test for wool by dampening a small bit: wet wool has a very distinctive smell and you can also pick up wool mixes that way. Regarding the collar: it's a kind of bias cut roll but more of an external panel rather than separate collar. It's a little like a very wide and flat bias piping. I don't have an actual name for you though. It's more of a feature.
About summer and wool... I have two Lanz dresses that are what the ladies when I was growing up called 'summer wool." it was 1/2 the weight of wool and have drape if that makes sense. They are an excellent transitional season garment. I wear mine a lot if I have to go where there's air blasting in the middle of the summer but they are my 'go to' early Spring and Fall too, just way too light for winter. I can try to grab a picture sometime... they are wool but a trippy 60s mod, almost tropical print.
Thanks Cin, you're quite right - we have a lot of summer weight wool here in Australia too, it's a wonderful material. I should have clarified: the fabric in this dress looks to be heavier but it may well be that it's not even a summer dress, it could be designed to be worn in winter with a jacket or cardigan. I've got lots of '60s winter dresses with short sleeves. A last clarification: your location will dictate the heaviness of winter garments, in some places the weather is very mild and short sleeves or even sleeveless are common (again, also in Australia).