I hope you don't mind me asking for yet more help from you experts! I have a few items that I picked up today and will be posting several posts (I apologize in advance). The first dress has me curious. I actually got this under the pretense that it was 40s, although the style and construction seemed all wrong to me. The person who sold it to me got it from an estate sale along with another dress that is actually from the 4os. I thought it looked older and thought that it might be worth the $10 I got it for. Can anyone help me with dating it please? It 'feels' pretty old that's for sure .. and I think it's beautiful, although it's too small for me (boooo). There are hook and eye closures up the back of the bodice and part way down the skirt part of the dress. I took these photos quickly so the lighting is pretty bad! Thanks!
It looks late to post Edwardian, 1910 to 1912. I might come back and take a closer look later. It might also be a costume, made in the style of that time, as it looks sort of home made. Not sure.....looks altered.
Thanks It looks as though a panel at the back was added to the bodice area to make it bigger -- I can't imagine how tiny it was before!!
the skirt also looks to have been extended with the same fabric from I don't know where! You see how the border should line up in a V shape at the back, but is interrupted by a plain fabric portion. That or the left side with the border on has fallen down somehow through thread breakage... It would help to see the skirt laid out flat and extended to see the cut. Also images of the interior construction where the extentions are.
I think Barbara is right with the date, but it has been altered. The back has been made larger, and I don't like how the skirt is pulled up in front. I suspect that's a later addition - possibly c. 1913ish, but more likely for a later play or dress-up.
Thank you! I have been studying it and I now clearly see the later alterations that were made (the alterer used white thread and basically yanked the front portion of the top layer of skirt and threaded it to make it that way). I'm also wondering if the dress was infact a two-piece - would that be possible? It almost looks as though the person who altered it stitched the bodice to the skirt (the stitching holding the two pieces together is the white thread and totally differs from the main stitching of both pieces).
