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From the very square toe, I would date them as about 2000. For some that is vintage. How wonderful that they are in new condition! Nicole

Hi Dingus, can you please include photos of all other labels - there should be fabric, country of origin and care instructions. Thank you. Nicole

Nice work Ruth! Looks good. peacock emoti Nicole

I also see early 1980s: about 1982. The silhouette (as kittenteethvintage pointed out, the skirt would be fuller in original '50s) and construction backs up that date. Nicole

I'm not a Chanel expert but I did have an almost identical dress, bought from a local designer in 1991. It was the perfect cocktail dress and I loved it. I also recall that those style of logo buttons became really big in the '90s. I hope you manage to pin a date down, it's a lovely dress. Nicole

I agree it could be Indian in origin, as the paisley design was hugely reproduced there, but I recently went to a lecture by an Islamic textile expert and the particular teardrop shaped design you see here (called 'buta'), is distinctive and originated in Persia. Wikipedia has more information...

We can't authenticate, also, because it's impossible to do so on the basis of a few photos. Garments and accessories need to be viewed and touched in person. For example, to authenticate your scarf, we'd need to know more about the fabric, how the hem is sewn, how well the hem is sewn, how well...

The lining might be silk but it's been very sloppily sewn in, which if anything, skews it to more modern to me: even in the 1950s people were much more careful about their sewing than this. This looks like a modern (1980s onwards) repair by an amateur who lacked the skills and had no motivation...

This is an interesting one: I can see why you might think the beadwork is '30s but it looks like it's been reapplied to a 1950s frame and the lining is not original either. I guess you'd have to look closely at the beadwork and the materials to determine but my feeling is that it's likely both a...

I agree with your '50s dating, I would put them as late '50s. I'll answer your questions in order: ..would like some help on the name of the fabric of the one all pink. It's stiffy but sheer, and I don't know the name. Is it a textured fabric? Appears to be flocked nylon. Also, the tissue...

Hi plousia, you mention that the fabric feels synthetic: if you mean polyester, it's likely an '80s does '40s. I've seen '40s shoulder pads that have been serged but only when the whole garment was made commercially. Some '40s dress patterns include a pattern piece for the shoulder pads but by...

Another vote for early '80s: I see about 1980-1982. The shoulder pads weren't common until about '83 and you get this simple silhouette just before then, especially with lace collars. I recall secretaries and office workers wearing dresses like this at the time. Nicole

Thanks Maggie! Question: I notice that someone has written some good words on Australian designer Prue Acton, perhaps our most significant fashion designer, described as Australia's Mary Quant. I'm presenting a lecture on her next week and have several pieces. If someone wanted to summarise...

Very cute swimsuit, I have one in my collection of a similar style but with white contrast buttons, which is 1960s in date. Mine had foam bust cups that had deteriorated over time (devil dust, ugh) and so I had to cut them out but it doesn't affect the style. You can always replace the bust...

I have another fake label: this one is for Worth and was found on a late '40s nylon housecoat. Likely Australian origin. Added to LR 8/20/24 Thank you Nicole!

Hi all, Here's a label I found in my collection: a fake Chanel label, probably of Australian origin. It looks like the gold globe figure is surrounded by the words 'Melbourne Paris London'. I can't remember what it was on, sadly but it was probably a '60s little black dress. Nicole Added to...

Lovely fabric: you can date by width, as (Jonathan mentioned) older fabrics are narrower. Soft furnishing fabrics tend to be wider than dressmaking fabrics but it all depends on the technologies available. As Jonathan mentioned, a lot of older designs were reproduced for a long time and in some...

I was going to mention Invaluable, as it's a good place to see who sells what - here's what I found by searching 'Malcolm Starr'. When I closed my vintage shop, I had a couple of auctions but like me, you probably have too much for one auction. My advice is to familiarise yourself with the...

We had a similar discussion on Facebook yesterday so I thought I'd clarify that 'velour' is the French word for 'velvet' and the two fabrics are quite similar - the VFG fabric resource (thanks Maggie) says: 'Velour is made in the same way as velvet except that it is made of cotton or a...

Looks like cotton velvet or velveteen to me.

I have a Lilli Ann coat in similar fabric with the vertical black velvet stripe but a different style (swing, rather than princess) and different collar. Here's the advert for it. I also found this ad for another style of swing coat with the velvet stripe, it's from 1956. These might help.

Plousia, in my experience it's all about knowing your market and giving them what they want - there are many ways to price stock, but your customers will beat a path to your door if you have what they want and offer good service and reasonable value. So my advice is to think about what you...

Hi Kiara, photos are really helpful if you have any. There should be some labels too - perhaps down the side seam? Really unusual not to have any: were they removed perhaps? Nicole

If you have the in-depth understanding of silhouette and detailing, it can often be done but it's easier during periods of rapid change. Many call this period 'Titanic' as the style is so recognisable. Look to the high waist, and fullness of a column skirt - it has the detailing of the earlier...

Gorgeous dress, Claire. Another vote for 1912. Nicole

Another vote for very early '60s - both for yours and the ebay dress you linked. That fresh teal colour was very big at the time. Your dress has a particular type of floral print that was inspired by 'warp prints'. Traditionally they were woven but yours is printed. It gives it a luxury look...

I think it could be '60s but you need more information: - are there any other labels? - do you know what the measurements are? If it is '80s there will be shoulder pads, even if they're small early '80s ones. I had a similar style dress in 1983, it was very slim in the body and had a '20s look...

I would expect it to be custom made, ie bespoke or couture. Without a label, it's impossible to determine whether it was made by a couture house as there were some very skilled dressmakers at the time, who used top-notch techniques. Nicole

A good dressmaker can advise on fabric choice: show her whatever you have, especially good if you have footage of it in movement. Good luck! Nicole

Sorry, I see big differences in those two dresses: the first looks like a strapless gown, appears to be silk taffeta, probably bespoke or couture - while the second is a softer satin, maybe polyester and more modern with a different bodice and neckline. Both have full skirts with underskirts...