1930s?? Dance Costume?? Thank you...

dorotheascloset

dorotheascloset

Registered Guest
To be honest, I think this is a costume piece made later perhaps using an older dress..I can't see a 30s piece having that long metal zip in back and the fit seems awfully loose and boxy for then as well. The velvet may well seem old, but I don't think this was the orginal construction.

Ang
 
I was kind of thinking the same thing as Ang. Didnt really see 30s but honestly didn't know exactly what era to put it in.

Sometimes its just that there is no easy answer. Your photos are fine!
 
Don't feel bad....I think we're just all mystified by this piece and don't know quite what to say about it.

It reminds me of the crushed velvet we had in the 60s and early 70s as well.

This is one of those items that unless you are actually touching and seeing, it is really hard to id.

I am wondering if it was a little homemade hot pants dress from the time period I have mentioned.

The sleeves don't look like something from the 30s to me either but then again who was putting in dress shields in the 60s and 70s?

It really is a difficult call.
 
Thank you for your response Ang and for confirming my thoughts on a costume piece.

It does have a fitted looked on me. I'm a size 8 rather than the size 4 of my dress form. I guess I thought it might be older because of the use of the sewn in underarm guards and the strange looking steel zipper which I've not seen before.
 
I, too, would date it as a late '60s-early '70s hot pants suit. Can you tell what fabric it is? My feeling is that a '30s showgirl outfit would be styled differently and the construction looks more modern to me too, with cotton bias tape to hem. Underarm shields have always been sold so aren't necessarily an indicator of age. I sew them into my garments too.

Nicole
 
And if it was a costume, the shields might have been intended to protect it against sweating under hot stage lights. If they were using an older fabric, the costumer probably wouldn't want to risk washing it and frequent dry cleaning could get quite expensive.
 
Thanks everyone for your insight. I have to laugh because when I saw it I was thinking "hot pants" also. But the look of the fabric & steel zipper looked so old... wishful thinking.

You see this is what happens when a vintage shopper's great imagination mixes with little knowledge on the subject.

Mystery solved, I can sleep tonight!!!!

Alice
 
true, underarm shields are used even today in theatre/stage. It really looks more like a piece from 69-71 that would have had a long split front maxi skirt over it, you know? likely home made....people re-use zippers all the time so while it is typically an indicator of age, in this case I don't think it means it's as old as a metal zipper usually says it is. Hope that makes sense. It's a tough one!

Ang
 
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