a-one more time... 40s-50s frocks need definition, help!

N

noir_boudoir

Registered Guest
OK, first of all - late 40s swing??

<img src="http://gallery.noirboudoir.com/itempics/milky40sfull.jpg" width=350>

And what precisely do I call the neck treatment, apart from an elaborate yoked bib?

<img src="http://gallery.noirboudoir.com/itempics/milky40stop.jpg" width=400>

<img src="http://gallery.noirboudoir.com/itempics/milky40sside.jpg">

And secondly, this one's been puzzling me for a while - a phenomenally well-made British, silk sheath, of petite-ish(shortened bodice) proportions.

Jonathan suggested a while back that it was c. 1959-60 due to the length, hip detail etc. And that seems to be the most likely date.

<img src="http://gallery.noirboudoir.com/itempics/ceilesquegallery.jpg" width=500>

But what's with the sweetheart neckline?

My mother commented that she thinks the length is more to do with the customer it was individually made for, and that while she started making her own clothes c. 1952, her mother and aunts wore sweetheart necklines, but she didn't get patterns like that from then on.

What do people think, and also, will the keyword 'Ceilesque' mean anything to the UK ebay market, do you think?

<img src="http://gallery.noirboudoir.com/itempics/ceilesqueside.jpg" width=450>

Thank you!!
 
Oh, and, that hip thing is a separate swathe of lined fabric trained round the back of the waist - do I call it just a swag? or something else?
 
Ceilesque would mean anything search wise but Ceil Chapman-like would.

Was the second one custom made, do you think? because some of the details could be mixed up then. If its later someone could have just been enamored of sweetheart necklines or they could have had a minicomeback, and earlier someone could just have been inventive. I am wondering which direction the colors are pulling you in...but then again...that can have variation too based on what fabric was used when.
 
But if I used 'Ceil Chapmen-like' that would be keyword spamming. Using 'Ceil-esque' would be flagging up the style without transgressing, do you think?

I don't know about the fabric vs. style... I did think of that 'personal request' possibility for the neckline. And it definitely does look custom made, with several nice details, including an extra flap of fabric sewn in the back of the kickpleat, instead of a normal uninterrupted pleat.

The silk is slubbed and does remind me of those late 50s Ceils.... It's a bit of a conundrum, this dress!
 
very nice! 1st is gorgeous, sophisticated and swing work for me as far as description goes!
on the 2nd i think if you mention ceil chapman on ebay uk they are getting the idea - i think there was a ceil 'featured' a while back that went as high as you'd hope as the seller.
i know it technically isn't sarong style but maybe mention that too? (i search sarong, don't know if i'm alone in that!) hip swag definitely.
i am enjoying your wardrobe clearout in a very selfish way.. :BAGUSE:
 
The top one does look late 40s.

The flowered does seem to be early 60s. Unless the wearer was extremely long-waisted, the proportion just isn't right, for much earlier, no matter how short she happened to be. You are sure the hem length is original?

Lizzie
 
Yes, I know what you mean about the look of this one, Lizzie - I think I needed an extra landslide of opinion!)

There is a good 2 and a half inches of hem on the bottom, which is more than I'd expect (and it's lined within the hem, if you know what I mean) - but there's no real old visible hem level, and I suspect it was hemmed at this length not that long after the original manufacture.

I actually just tried it on again, for the first time in ages. And once it's on, I do get that 'later' feel as opposed to earlier. Sometimes the try-on helps! funny, eh?

L
 
A little word of warning...I had an item pulled by eBay that I described as Pucci-esque. I had used that term before, but it didn't work that one time.

Sometimes the try-on helps! funny, eh?

Oh, I do so agree!;)
 
Thanks, Maggie - I think I'd maybe use it in a subtitle or something, as 'ceil' is unlikely to be useful as a search term anyway, so it's not worth getting pulled for!

Gosh, need to get myself into gear, otherwise I'll *never* list these...

L
 
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