Baffled by this 40s style jumpsuit

TinTrunk

TinTrunk

Registered Guest
This is a garment I've worn a couple of times (in my thinner days *sigh*) and I'd love to find out more about it.

navyjumpsuit_600w.jpg


It appears to be made of a kind of dull finish, coarse silk and the construction is exquisite. It has couture standard details such as hand oversewing of all the seam edges (no machine overlocking) and the press studs (snaps) inside it are all carefully covered with fabric.

Fastening it up is an adventure! Its so complex, with an inner waist belt like a petersham band with hooks and eyes to fasten, and about five press studs, before you even get to the buttons! I've inspected a lot of couture garments in museums, and the construction and finish stand up to comparison with them.

So its definitely 40s influenced with the padded shoulders, vaguely military styling and wide, wide legs (note the deep, sewn pleat along each leg that opens about mid thigh).

But I've a feeling its probably from the 1980s. Any input on this would be much appreciated!

Another clue is the label (btw, there's no care label - no other labels at all):

navy_lbl_400w.jpg


Google gives me one 1980s 'military dress' from an ebay auction and no pictures anymore, even with the cached version.

Has anyone come across 'Place Vendome Haute Couture' before?

This really has baffled me! :help:

Sarah
 
well I am not sure if you already know this or not,,, but Place Vendome is a very well known spot/square in paris where many couturers set up like chanel etc....... so.... finding out where it came will be fun :-)
 
Yeah, but isn't it funny how vague the label is, Jluthe? You'd think that if it was a top-line couturier there would be a 'name' as well as the address! :puzzled:

Maybe its a second, and the Place Vendome couturiers dump them with this 'catch all' label?

I'm speculating wildly here, but I've not found a significant flaw in this jumpsuit, and like I said, it really is beautifully made. It reminds me of much older couture garments in its complex and old-fashioned fastening/construction and finishing.
 
Just going to add some more details of the construction.

Here's one of the seams, with its hand-stitched oversewing:

navy_stich_400w.jpg


And here's one of those fabric covered press studs:

navy_snap_400w.jpg


You don't get finishing like that on modern rtw!
 
Looking at the label, I'd say it's fairly new - not older than 80s.t The quality and details you describe are stunning - what a great piece!

I've never heard of anything like "Place Vendôme Haute Couture" either... Place Vendôme is actually THE place to shop for jewelery - if you've got a few millions to spare :bouncy: . There's one super-duper high class jewelery shop next to the other, plus (I hope I remember right) the ministry of justice or something like that, and the Ritz.

Karin
 
I agree, Midge, that the label looks really recent (its actually pretty naff, don't you think?!)

And I'm not entirely convinced this jumpsuit actually came from the prestigious Place Vendome. Its just such a great name to stitch onto a label! Plus anyone from Turkey to Thailand could easily pirate a label like that.

So while I'm still very cynical about the label and its credentials, I am convinced that it is a quality garment, probably dating from the 1980s.

Sarah
 
I agree that it's a high quality garment from the 1980s, and I, too, doubt that it has anything to do with Paris. I think it's probably a couture garment from another location like Turkey or Singapore.

I'm also not sure that those seams are hand-finished as that stitch looks to be machine made - but it's irrelevant because the other indications are that it's good quality.

Nicole
 
Sorry - I've been distracted by work and haven't checked in for a while.

Thanks for checking Google too, Karin! It looks like its not a significant label or company.

Nicole - I'm sure you're right. Its a very common ploy for foreign manufacturers to try and apply a little Parisian prestige to their garments!

Sarah
 
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