40s 50s or 60s? Thoughts on which it could be?

[surfcrashrepeat]

This dress has me stumped. The ruffled sleeves and empire style to me says 40s? The way the bodice is darted looks like it's fit for a bullet bra which says 50s? But then there's a 'dry clean only' tag I have in one of my super mod 60s dresses. Heeeeelp!

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Pretty dress! I'm seeing more of a 70s styling in this one. Let's see what others have to say.

 

[Midge]

Pretty! My though was 60s first... I had a home-made mini dress years ago, that had the same kind of shape with the high waist, and also pretty bullet-y bust darts.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Yeah, the bullet bust darts are an indicator which pushes me towards 50s/60s. & it is so pretty, I wish it was my size :( ! I would say 70s but it has a metal zipper and the seams aren't right for the 70s

 

[Pinkcoke]

I also think it is 1970s, with those tiered flutter sleeves it harks back to an earlier romantic period popular in many 70s styles. Metal zippers are still in use today, their presence does not preclude this dress from being 1970s. Can you show the seams and zip please?

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

Early 1970s. Similar to prom gowns of the era. I had to wear a very similar one as a brides maid dress.
We had metal zippers in long gowns during 70s.

 

[carla rey]

Another vote for 70s

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

alrighty, 70s it it seems to be! I'll grab a photo of the seams and zipper to post here tomorrow for you Melanie (I just spent all day photographing and am officially off the clock) I did take a close look at the zipper and the brand is TREND - about to delve into that research. My only question remains with the bullet darting in the bust. Would that be something that seems right for the 70s?

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

My mother sewed me a dress very similar to this in 1976 for my junior high school graduation. But the fabric on your dress is much prettier!

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you Donna! Man, if this was a graduation/prom dress it kicks the crap out of prom dresses available to me in the early 2000s.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Yes, another vote for early '70s. You've correctly identified influences from previous eras, but this was common in the early '70s. The perky bust goes with the empire line and suggests it's for a young woman, as Donna mentioned, these dresses were worn by teenagers for formal affairs.

I'd like to see label and seam photos too, if you can take some.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Hi Nicole! Thanks for sharing your thoughts behind the features of the dress. There actually are no labels apart from the dry clean only one and I'll be taking photos and posting them tomorrow

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

As promised, photos! Couldn't find anything on the zipper & there's just this dry clean only tag inside with what looks like the remnants of a cleaners ticket. Hope these photos are clear enough.

 

[Pinkcoke]

I took a quick snap of this dress I saw on tv from a 70s clip of Sandy Denny (folk singer) because it reminded me so much of this dress. I don't know exactly when the recording was made, but Sandy died in 1978.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

epic dresssssss! Thanks Melanie, pretty sure it's sorted that it's from the early-ish 70s - and possible homemade for a teen?

 

[Pinkcoke]

The yellow tag on the bottom of the zip indicates it was a commercially made garment, as it states Operator, Finishing/er these are roles within the manufacturing process. I think we've possibly nudged it up to mid 70s as well ;)

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you so much Melanie for being so dedicated to helping me identify this As I said, this one had me stumped, and you pretty well sorted it!