50's ? Lilac Dress

TrickVintage

TrickVintage

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50\'s ? Lilac Dress

hello all,

i have a beautiful lilac purple cotton dress.

i was hoping for some help on the dating and description.

seems like 1950's era. seems the bodice is pin-tucked. not sure what the leaf-like treatment would be called-applique ? the fitted waist also has the same treatment. the back of the bodice has a v-shape back with a metal zipper. the skirt is pleated as shown in the photo.
 
Prrrretty!

The early 60s sounds right to me too. The leaf business looks like eyelet lace with a machine-embroidered leaf pattern.
 
Yes, I agree that this dress was probably white originally and has been dyed. From the photo there looks to be a deep hem? In which case the original length of the skirt might move the date back into the late 50's.
 
Originally posted by vertugarde
Yes, I agree that this dress was probably white originally and has been dyed. From the photo there looks to be a deep hem? In which case the original length of the skirt might move the date back into the late 50's.
Click to expand...

I don't know -- I do find that MOST of my late 50's/early 60's dresses already have a very deep hem. Rather than being indicative of hemming, I find it to be more of a construction detail.

It's this very detail that's always lacking in modern reproductions and I think why their skirts never lay quite right.
 
Thank you Kristine for expanding and clarifying my response. You are right about deep hems for the period in question. I think though it's worth bringing up the point about hems as they do affect dating and also whether a vintage dress/skirt was altered. Having a petticoat in this case would also help.
 
My first thought was the same as Amanda's - late '50's. I think the dress has been shortened. I'm not sure it was originally white, but it may have been. The buttons look like they match the lilac which could be a reflection. I remember owning a lilac dress in 1958. I dug out my eight grade graduation photo from 1957. I'll let you guess which one is me! There are a lot of similar white dresses and not all the hems are deep. We would have been wearing "junior" size dresses. There are a few petticoats and crinolines:


Menands%20School%20Graduation%20II.jpg


You can see the dresses better in this link:

http://photos.imageevent.com/linn/linn/Menands School Graduation II.jpg


Linn
 
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