1940s or 1950s fabric?

Thanks Linn, not sure what to say about the fabric on my listing. It is a cotton, but the weave/finish ?? Any suggestions on how to describe the fabric? and re the print is it safe to say both 'screen or handprinted'. I did buy this in the UK, though the fabric doesn't look very British, but may be...

Difficult one to price especially when I paid quite a bit for it, but it is gorgeous so I hope I'm not wrong in listing it at a decent price. Wonder if Ebay might be better than Etsy, decisions decisions! Just want someone to recognise it for the lovely 1940s print and be willing to pay a decent asking price! :scratchchin:

Sarah

 

I tried unsuccessfully to find a reference to describe how cloque is woven or treated. My best guess is that it's woven with some crepe yarns.

Plisse' is printed with caustic soda and the puckers flatten out with use. Based on the age and condition of this dress, I don't think it's plisse'. Also, there is frequently a slight difference in the colors where it's printed.

Seersucker is woven in but the design is usually linear with a distinct pattern.

I vote for cloque'. Claire

 

Thanks so much Claire for researching the fabric, I'm glad I got everyone stratching their heads! Cloque' then? I have been looking that up since you mentioned it and does sound like it. Since I have the dress, if it helps you to confirm that is definitely cloque', the material does have a give to it, slight stretch and that the bodice part has flattened a bit from I assume being fitted around the bust and thus tension from wear, whereas the skirt is loose and so has had no tension on it. So as part of the material has flattened out a tad, does that still rule plisse' out?

Oh, I have been truly educated on this thread, I've looked up every single one of the fabrics/finishes that have been mentioned...I didn't know there were so many!

Sarah

 

And does anyone have a ball park figure at a reasonable asking price? I'm just feeling my feet on the vintage circuit, so help regarding price would be really appreciated!!!!!! I've done ok judging the value of other items I have, but this one I'm a bit stumped... as it's a 40s print on a 50s dress and it's mainly the print that's lovely. I just want the dress to fetch what it deserves and I don't know what that is! :help:

 

The bodice is probably flatter because of stress. Plisse' tends to flatten where you sit on it. C

 

That more knowledge, thanks so much Claire, cloque it must be! I guess that makes it less desirable than plisse then :scratchchin:

 

NO, no, cloque is more expensive than plisse'. Plisse' is printed with caustic soda so the puckers are not as permanent. The cloques I have are expensive silks. I think you have an expensive cotton. C

 

Thanks Claire, you've been a really great help and I've learnt loads about fabrics. I do now have this dress on Etsy but not sure if I've overpriced or underpriced it. The items I love I do tend to think they're worth more than they actually are, beauty in the eye of the beholder 'n all that!

 

Late to the party as I've been away on vacation. This is an early to mid-1950's dress and the design is typical of novelty or conversational print designs. During the decade there were some really wonderful British designers producing great textile designs. This may well be one of them. This style of print was very popular and reflected the post-war emergence of travel to Spain, France and Italy. Hence the woman's dress and footwear.

The fabric looks like a cotton pique and is likely screen printed. The linear drawn 'overlapping' design is deliberate and not a 'miss-register.' You do occasionally see the term 'screen printed' on the selvage and also the manufacturing company name.

I've owned some 1940's rayon crepe dresses that have that style of drawing albeit in very different colours and mainly floral in theme.

 

for all the info! I've listed the dress as cloque re prev threads but I better change it to cotton pique then? As the print doesn't sound as unique as I first thought, I think I may now have overpriced the dress

 

Hi Karin, Aahhhh, I did look that website up when I noticed the link from Linn and I looked at the fabrics all except that light green one which now I have which I agree is very similar if not the same, but shame the fabric isn't too clear cos of the colour. So we have cloque, pique or plisse - is the final verdict plisse or does anyone think otherwise? :clueless:

Sarah

 

Ok Karin, I've changed the listing, thankyou Linn and thanks Karin, we got there in the end!

Sarah

 

What a fabulous, fabulous dress! Yes, you should be able to get a nice price for this.

I think I've called this type of fabric a "waffle weave" before.... or honeycomb weave. It's much finer than what I guess is technically a waffle weave, but nonetheless, either of these are pretty descriptive of what it looks like....