1910's Dress (?)

sMarie

sMarie

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1910\'s Dress (?)

I think this dress dates to the late teens, around 1917-1918? In some ways it reminds me of a 20's dress though. Can you help me date it correctly?

It's made of silk and snaps at the shoulder, at the waist and at the lining of the bodice. It is about a modern size 12, which is fairly unusual for the time, right?

In the pictures it kinda looks like it has a drop waist, but it does not. It's too large for my mannequin and I didn't want to pin it.

There is black surface marks on it (to the skirt), that look like some sort of grease like residue. I am so afraid of cleaning it, but I don't think someone would wear it as is. I think it would make a pretty wedding dress once it's pressed and clean. It seems very sturdy for a dress from this period. It is lined in cotton. There are no holes. At the risk of sounding crazy, do you think I should have it dry cleaned? I don't know what else to do.
DSC03609-1.jpg


This shows the shoulder unsnapped and the snaps at the bustline
DSC03659-1.jpg


This is the inner waist band:
DSC03664-1.jpg


This is stamped on the fabric of both armpits:
DSC03662-1.jpg
 
Hi,

I am unable to really get a good idea of what this dress looks like. It also appears to have been altered, hem taken up, etc. The stampings on the underarms may be for the shields or protective cloth sewn in there?

If you can get a better photo of the waist line area that would be helpful.

Is it silk?

B
 
Hi Barbara,

Thank you for your response.

Yes, it is silk and lined in cotton. I agree the stamping for the underarms is probably for the shields, I thought that might help with dating it. Yes it looks like the hem was taken up. There are two panels that are sewn on at the waist and flow along side the skirt but are not attached anywhere but the waist. I think the dress was once the length of the panels that now hang longer than the dress.

I will have to take more pictures in the morning, because it is dark outside right now.
 
Thank you, that helps.

Yes the belt is sewn on in several places and has snaps connected to it. The ribbon part of it is silk as well, I believe.
 
i found Benedict, C, Mfg, in 559 Mission San Francisco, listed 1921 and 1922 Directories of manufacturers in SF. They are listed as a manufacturer of dress shields and dress linings, amongst other things. I couldn't find out when the Company was formed. This doesn't rule out dates on either side, but it does support Barbara's dating. Links to the two directories here:

http://www.archive.org/stream/directoriesofman00sanfrich/directoriesofman00sanfrich_djvu.txt

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-e...co-california-comprising-an-alphabe-hci.shtml
 
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