40s floral cotton blouse
- Thread starter plousia
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vivavintageclothing
VFG Member
Based on (what looks to be) the cotton-poly blend fabric, and the colors, I am guessing that this might be from the late 1970s or early 80s--although the style is similar to a 1940s blouse. It is certainly cute!
The Vintage Vendeuse
VFG Member
Looks later to me, too.
The very boxy cut of it makes me think later as well. 40s blouses tended to be very tapered in at the waist.
plousia
Registered Guest
True, a lot of them are, but the Commercial Pattern Archive shows quite a few with a boxy cut, e.g. https://copa.apps.uri.edu/garment.php?patID=47500 and https://copa.apps.uri.edu/garment.php?patID=20542. Frustratingly 40s patterns tend too show blouses tucked in so it's hard to tell what's happening with the waist, but you can tell if you click through and look at the pattern pieces. A lot of them have no or little waist.
I don't know, going to thrift stores as much as I do you come across a lot of 80s blouses, and this just feels different. The seaming is all straight machine and hand sewn, no pinking, serging or even zigzag. It's quite faded along the edges and under the arms. Hard to tell from photos but this just has the feel of a lot older than 80s, although of course a lot of 40s design patterns got repeated in the 80s and I can certainly see why some would think it's 80s, I thought so too at first glance.
Even wearing it, it looks different (maybe doesn't show so well on the dress form). If I'm wrong, no big deal as I am keeping it. Though of course I need to know so I don't misrepresent a similar garment when selling.
I don't know, going to thrift stores as much as I do you come across a lot of 80s blouses, and this just feels different. The seaming is all straight machine and hand sewn, no pinking, serging or even zigzag. It's quite faded along the edges and under the arms. Hard to tell from photos but this just has the feel of a lot older than 80s, although of course a lot of 40s design patterns got repeated in the 80s and I can certainly see why some would think it's 80s, I thought so too at first glance.
Even wearing it, it looks different (maybe doesn't show so well on the dress form). If I'm wrong, no big deal as I am keeping it. Though of course I need to know so I don't misrepresent a similar garment when selling.
bycinbyhand
VFG Member
Would you happen to have a photo of the interior seams and finishing?
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The Vintage Vendeuse
VFG Member
As well as the styling, the close-up photo of the fabric (with button) that especially makes me think later, like 80s. The cotton weave... the floral design... the colors... It looks typical of what I would have made at home back then.
plousia
Registered Guest
Here's a bunch of pics of the interior seaming and construction. I think the buttonholes may be done by hand, not sure.
Can't convince anyone, I'm still quite certain it's earlier, but if anyone has a definitive reason why it's 80s I'd love to know. I've seen a lot of similar florals and colour schemes online on 40s garments, in fact it's pretty much the same colour scheme as a 40s dress I have, just larger-scale.
Can't convince anyone, I'm still quite certain it's earlier, but if anyone has a definitive reason why it's 80s I'd love to know. I've seen a lot of similar florals and colour schemes online on 40s garments, in fact it's pretty much the same colour scheme as a 40s dress I have, just larger-scale.
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The Vintage Vendeuse
VFG Member
Your new photos further convince me that it's home-made 1980s-ish.
But I am surprised at the fabric being or containing a synthetic, the weave looks like cotton to me!
But I am surprised at the fabric being or containing a synthetic, the weave looks like cotton to me!
plousia
Registered Guest
Oh no the fabric isn't a synthetic, it is cotton. The sewing thread is synthetic.
For my education, do you mind kindly explaining what it is that indicates 80s in the construction? To me, the sewing techniques were what made me think it was older. As it is only straight machine and hand sewing.
For my education, do you mind kindly explaining what it is that indicates 80s in the construction? To me, the sewing techniques were what made me think it was older. As it is only straight machine and hand sewing.
bycinbyhand
VFG Member
Actually that type of serging I see is more recent than 40s, same with the construction of the garment... the facing pieces in particular and not a finished French seam which was popular in many of the 40s blouses. I would go with 1980s on this.
plousia
Registered Guest
Thanks. The serging is hand done, not machine; is it still more recent than 40s? (The stitch I mean, not the blouse). I found that stitch particularly interesting as I'd never seen it before. (I should say, it appears to be hand sewn; it doesn't look even enough to be done by machine and it doesn't look like any serging I've ever seen before).
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plousia
Registered Guest
OK, now I'm totally confused.
I recently found a couple other handmade blouses that I am pretty sure are 40s. To compare I did a burn test on some of the sewing thread from this one, and it also tests as synthetic (melted into a little hard blob).
Was there synthetic thread in the 40s? Or am I wrong about this blouse as well? Everything about it seems right for what I know of the era, but now I'm really confused.
I recently found a couple other handmade blouses that I am pretty sure are 40s. To compare I did a burn test on some of the sewing thread from this one, and it also tests as synthetic (melted into a little hard blob).
Was there synthetic thread in the 40s? Or am I wrong about this blouse as well? Everything about it seems right for what I know of the era, but now I'm really confused.
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Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
All 3 of your pretty blouses look 1980s or thereabouts.
