Art Deco Dress?

V

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Hi, there! Because of the material, stitching, handiwork and style, I believe this dress to be of the art deco era. I know that plastic beads (like catalin and celluloid) became popular at this time, but I'm suddenly nervous about dating this dress without glass beads. Please help!

Many thanks in advance!
 

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It would also be useful to know what the sleeves are like - batwing, long and wide or narrow?
I agree on first impressions this looks much later than art deco, it's quite simple decoration which I can see being worn over a satin dress or slip.
 
Hi, there! I will search for more photos. I agree that from the photo it looks like an 1980s dress, but I am confident it is older than that (perhaps a later remake?). The fabric is extremely delicate and the closure happens via vintage snaps on the left shoulder. The lining is also a sheer silk chiffon that is hand stitched. The sleeves have a slight dolman shape (no set-in seam), but the cuffs are cut at a bias--so that they rest above the wrist at an angle--like a petal finish. The front and back are identical.

So what I'm hoping for is more information regarding the use of plastic beads during this era. Thank you!
 
Your item appears to be a fairly modern Indian kurti. I have handled and worn dozens of these over the years and they are sometimes made with very fine fabrics that appear to be vintage. Snaps are also used as closures.

The beading --- in both materials and technique --- would not be typical of an art deco era garment.
 
That close to the neck round neckline is not typical of a neckline on a 20s dress and the bottom at the hemline is too narrow.
The round pearl like beads don't look at all right. A lot of the dresses from this time period really did have a 1920s look to them,
I have been taken aback a few times myself on first glance with some of these dresses...but when you examine them side by side it becomes easy to see the differences.
 
Thank you for the continued comments, everyone! I very much appreciate each of you taking the time to write!


And please keep them coming!
 
The art deco time period is roughly the 1920's and 1930's. Clothing, and many other items made in subsequent decades have elements of art deco styling. You could accurately describe this beautiful dress as being made in the 1980's or 1990's with art deco decorative details. For example many 1960's dresses have 1920's styling, but that does make them 1920's dresses. Style elements and decades are different elements in listing and describing clothing.
Marian
 
The term Art Deco was not used until about 1970. It was coined by Bevis Hillier in conjunction with an exhibit at the Minnesota Institute of Arts. I was fortunate to see the Art Deco exhibit that originated at the V&A in 2004 in San Francisco. (I also bought the book!) The dates given for the Period are 1910-1939. While the Art Deco style (actually "styles") is mostly associated with the 1920's and 1930's, it originated earlier and was interrupted by WWI. The 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs (from which the term Art Deco derived) was actually scheduled to be held earlier.

As Marion noted there were many revivals, when the elements from the original period were used. You can distinguish Period pieces by the materials and construction used.

Art Deco is one of my favorite periods!
 
I, too, saw the V&A exhibit in SF and bought the book. I wonder if we were there at the same time? Thank you for so elegantly and authoritatively clarifying what I was trying to convey. Elements from a distinctive popular style return and return.
Marian
 
I would question that wikipedia entry. I've heard it from several sources that the term was not coined until later, inspired by the 1925 exhibition, but not at the time - I know Lynn has more exact information.
 
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