40s peplum suit -- what's missing?

Better Dresses Vintage

Better Dresses Vintage

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Hi everyone. REALLY LOVE this new and improved VFG and forum. Just terrific.

So here I have an Ike Clark of Dallas peplum suit. Found plenty of the same maker on web, but none of the same label.

Suit is cotton with cotton velvet trim. Seems perfectly straightforward, but when you look closer, it's a bit weird. For one thing... what is the removable "extra collar" piece? I have it attached the only way I could figure it out. Not 100% sure it's right, but wouldn't work any other way. It's reversible. You can have it velvet on the front/woven on the back or vice versa.

And then there are mysterious empty buttonholes under the collar, but nothing to put in them (what do you think it was?). The cuffs have celluloid buttons that detach.

The belt is missing, along with whatever went into those under-collar buttonholes, but otherwise, it's in nearly-new condition. Strange, no?

Side metal "National" zipper on skirt.

Do I have that collar thingy on correctly?

Thanks!
 
I am not sure really, still learning this new forum. But it may not be the file size so much as the overall width and length of the photo.

You should use the "more options" reply box so that you can preview your reply before posting. If it doesn't show in preview, it wont show in your post.
 
You don't say how the jacket fastens so the under collar button holes could be for a chain fastening with two links either end (rather like on an old cloak) The only one I've seen before could be removed completely and was gold or plated, so yours may have been taken off for safekeeping if this were the case.

If you upload your photo to a hosting site you generally have no problems and it's not too much work.
 
IkeBack-SMALL.jpg
IKEundercoll-SMALL.jpg
IkeClark-tag-SMALL.jpg

ikeclark-SMALL.jpg
 
Front and back views, then a shot of what's under the attached collar, and one of the tag. That "buttoned on velvet collar" is reversible. Here's a shot with it reversed to the print (and in back, it reverses to the black velvet).
IKE-revColl-SMALL.jpg
 
Ah no I think your random buttonholes are so that the actual jacket collar can be turned down into an open neck style and buttoned down with the buttons you put the detatchable piece onto. (Like a trenchcoat can)
If the collar was buttoned down after as well it would hide the side pieces and make it look as though the dress had that piece sewn on.
 
OK... I have tried rolling the attached collar down and getting the hidden buttonholes to reach the detachable-collar buttons, but there is no way to to so. They are just too far away and risk tearing the fabric. Plus, that would be a VERY open collar indeed. Am I doing it wrong? Wish you were here!!!
 
4.25 inches from buttonholes to center of buttons, on a diagonal. For the button to reach the hole (or vice versa), the whole jacket would be hiked up and the armholes are up around your ears.

It was a brilliant thought, but I don't think it's the answer.
 
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