Recent content by Jonathan

Ya, that's a c. 78-81 heel.

Hard to tell without seeing the heel shape, but the forepart looks c, 1980ish, especially with that colour palette or pink and grey, which was popular then.

1948/49

I am thinking early 1850s because of the boat neckline, fuller skirt, open sleeves, flat eyelets and painted buttons. It's the sort of linen used to line dresses, so it was a cheap fabric at the time. It may have also been for a boy, not a girl. It's nicely made with the piped waist seam, and...

It looks like a version of a Tudor-style tam with a stiff brim. We have one from the 1890s, same era as this photo, in the collection but unfortunately, its not photographed... but here is a repro...

They are more common after c. 1907, but they are around - informal day dresses are often one piece by the 1890s.

Sonni was in business from c. 1950 to 2005. The core of the hat looks like those Princess Diana 'Eugenie' hats that were popular in c. 1980, but that massive veil/brim suggests to me it's a later revival style. The text style on the label also looks later to me, maybe early 2000s?

Likely 1902 - polka-dot prints were HUGE that year, the fullness of the sleeve is moving away from the wrist, but it hasn't puffed at the shoulder yet - which you also see in 1909-1910, but the skirt shape would be different in 1909/10 rather than this flared bell shape, which is early Edwardian.

Definitely contact Betsey Johnson via however you can - I suspect there is a story behind it...

It's not impossible that it does up at the front - usually that's for nursing but the 'norm' is not the rule. It's like pockets - a lot of dresses have pockets, especially in the mid-late 19th century, but it's often said that dresses don't have pockets.

That makes sense - I saw that movie but a long time ago when it came out and had forgotten that name. I thought maybe it was in reference to the Beatles song Penny Lane and John Lennon wearing an Afghan coat, except Penny Lane was on the Sgt. Pepper's album, so it was just before they went all...

These are what you are looking at The skirt should be a bit longer in the back, so that should also tell you which way the dress is worn.

It's the shot where the fabric is pulled up the neck. I didn't look closely at all the photos. For an evening dress from this period, the opening should be in the back. Do you have any provenance on the dress?

Very nice -a summer evening gown and yes, c. 1860-63 would be my guess. Not in perfect shape, but certainly presentable. It's definitely on the mannequin backwards. Let me know when you put it up for sale.

That is a pretty one. I have never heard the term 'Penny Lane' for these coats before, and I have also never heard they were made of Yak. The original ones were made of karakul sheepskin. I have always assumed these were from the late 60s-70s and don't recall them being worn into the 80s as they...