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Karin, I've made the mistake before of trying on a vintage side-zip dress without a slip on and in a "warmer than comfortable" situation. NOT a good idea! I haven't gotten stuck, but by the time I was done, I was a wilted mess. You were wise to wait to try it on when you got home!

That dress is to die for! I see big bucks in your future! Can't help with the label, but I suspect it might have been a privately labeled item for a high-end clothing shop in Hollywood, perhaps with its own brand (as opposed to the name of the store). Or, I wonder if this label may have been...

Alice, it would be wonderful to know more about this unusual fabric--it's really unique, and if you get more information, I'd be dying to hear it! I think "eyelash effect" is a good description.

Yes, Alice, if it were panne' velvet, the entire fabric would be "napped." From your photos, the bodice background appears to be a short-napped, satiny-looking velvet, with the very long nap only in the circles. If the background is not velvet, then sateen sounds about right.

I don't know how much "help" that was, Alice! LOL.... But it's really hard on an unusual fabric like this to tell what it might be without having it "in hand." That is a very cool effect on that, though! Should bring in some nice $$! (I need to re-shoot mine with my new camera that can...

What a pretty gown with an unusual treatment on the velvet! I don't "know" cisele velvet, but to me and "from here," this looks like the ground on the bodice is panne' velvet, which was popular in the late 60s into the 70s, and the circles look like a novelty-cut effect out of the panne' velvet...

I have a 70s' short faux fur coat with the Russel Taylor label, but had not heard of it before, but have had many Borgana faux furs over the years. I'm thinking 70s on your coat, too, and not 80s. Yours is really smashing! Joel, I'd be interested to know more about the company--anything you can...

I totally agree with Barbara on repeating your burn test! Your coat is lovely! From "here" it looks like linen to me, as I'd expect raw silk to have more pronounced, random slubbing throughout, and I don't see that in the photos.

That is utterly adorable! Swimsuits aren't my forte', but I agree with 50s.

Maybe the black ones are more available here in the States? Other than black cashmere coats with the mink collars (which always sell, although not at the prices the colored ones do), I've never had much luck with the black ones. Most of mine in the neutral colors have had a lot going for them in...

LOL, Nicole! I found the same thing, only by the time I discovered vintage--while I was still skinny and could get into those side-zip dresses--it wasn't too long before I had my son and my waistline never quite got back to its former self... So, I now have to do the contortions to get myself...

In general, I agree with Nicole's assessment, except for coats of this style in colors other than black. It seems that coats like this in beige or grey or ivory, etc., sell much better than black, especially if the fabric is unusual. There are just so many of these around in black....

Sandy, hopefully the Murphy's will work. If this is a permanent Sharpie-type marker, I'd try rubbing alcohol or "Oops" before I'd try acetone. I've had acetone start to eat through fabric.... If the stain is not on a colored portion of the scarf, the best thing ever for permanent ink (or at...

Lovely dress! And I think the zipper goes in the back and that it's original in placement and length. This sort of zipper, that doesn't go all the way up to the neckline, is sometimes found in 40s' dresses, but I don't think they're terribly common. I've had a couple and have seen them in...

Hi; I agree with Nicole on the early 60s' dating and that the collar is most likely mink. The "Worumbo" designation means that the wool was woven at the J.P. Stevens Worumbo mill, and "Surrella" would be the company's name for the wool fabric. Stevens wove wonderful woolens; I can't see the...

New at VintageCoatPourri on Etsy: Vintage 60s Grey Faux Fur Swing Coat, Silver Mink Collar, Size Med Lg And, at MyVintageCocktail on Etsy (where we're having a BIG clearance sale!): Vintage 50s 60s Windowpane Check Wool Skirt Suit, Med Large, 10 12

I agree with Susan on the sewing machine oil, or you used to be able to find sewing machine lubricant that was more like a grease. It's hard to put "too much" of either of these into or onto the area that needs unsticking due to the tiny opening on the end of the applicator.

With the Dacron Polyester fabric content and the invisible front zipper, I'm inclined to say 70s as well; I'm thinking mid decade. And I agree that these were used for all types of occupations requiring a uniform. I don't remember colors being as popular for say, waitresses, but I can see it as...

Very sharp coat! I'd say early 70s with those huge lapels and the pocket flaps.

Can't wait to see it, Alice!!!! And, Julie, your jacket looks terrific! Here's the one I sold earlier this year that came out so nicely at my cleaner's (can't tell much by the photos, but even though the dress didn't look "all that bad" before it was cleaned, it was amazing how much nicer it...

You and the dress both look marvelous--so glad it was improved with cleaning. I hear you about not minding the imperfections that can come with vintage, but wanting to have them feel "clean." I'm a shorty, too, and I agree with Joules that the new length looks great! Thanks for sharing the...

I agree to have it dry cleaned. I had a 1950s' red cotton velvet dress not too long ago that had some minor spotting on it, and it came out beautifully at my cleaner's. I wouldn't try washing it.... (Would love to see pictures, Alice--I'm gaga over red velvet!!!) If your cleaner gets too heavy a...

That is really lovely! And I agree with 30s, possibly early 40s. I also agree to wash by hand, and, like Alice, I add hair conditioner to the water. I use the hair conditioner in the final rinse water, too. This keeps the fabric supple and, especially with rayon (which I think your gown might...

Hi Sofie, Quite a mystery..... I agree with Nicole that dating on Etsy is often not very reliable, and the ensemble you link to looks late 60s or very early 70s to me. Without seeing the nightgown under this peignoir, it's hard to say whether it's "the" Olga or not.... The peignoir on its own...

That's so cute, Melanie! The first thought that comes to my mind is "hopsacking."

I wore a dress almost identical to this in my cousin's wedding, which was in 1974! Only a different color. So, my recollection is similar to Gayle's. I think "Edwardian Revival" is a good term as well. You might find, if you look around at the skirt seams, and in between the shell and the...

That's adorable! And I'm in the late 40s/early 50s camp, too, and lean toward 50s. I had a late 40s' topper jacket in an almost identical houndstooth print, and I agree that the arrow design could certainly be from that era. It seems to me that 60s' capes weren't as short--even the shorter ones...

New at MyVintageCocktail on Etsy: Vintage 1940s Dove Grey Soft Wool Skirt Suit, Sm Med

I sometimes toss some white vinegar in the wash water when washing vintage lingerie, more for helping to clean it, but everything does come out smelling nice and fresh. Have never tried it on "dry" fabric for odors, but it night work. I wonder--would something like vinegar or peroxide help to...

Vodka--sprinkle the inside of the pits with vodka. You'll need to be careful to not get the fabric too damp, as it will bleed through and possibly damage or discolor/stain the velvet. Dry cleaning won't help. Fortunately, I've never had this problem but several members have said it works...