Beaded dress
- Thread starter Terry C
- Start date
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
Hi Terry and welcome to the forums.
What sort of information are you after? It looks like an early '70s party or dance dress. Is the bodice all beaded or sequinned as well? It could be late '60s but the skirt looks more early '70s to me. It could even be '80s from the label: are you able to tell us any more about it? Eg is there a fabric label, or can you tell what fabric it's made of? Does it have a centre back nylon zipper?
Thank you.
What sort of information are you after? It looks like an early '70s party or dance dress. Is the bodice all beaded or sequinned as well? It could be late '60s but the skirt looks more early '70s to me. It could even be '80s from the label: are you able to tell us any more about it? Eg is there a fabric label, or can you tell what fabric it's made of? Does it have a centre back nylon zipper?
Thank you.
It has a metal zipper down the center. It is all glass. Pretty sure it is chiffon
themerchantsofvintage
Alumni
Agree with Nicole on late 60s to early 70s.
I'm not exactly sure when made in the "British Crown Colony" stopped, but I think it was no longer in use by the mid 70s.
I'm not exactly sure when made in the "British Crown Colony" stopped, but I think it was no longer in use by the mid 70s.
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
I was curious so did a little googling and discovered a large number of dresses on Etsy with this label, including several that are clearly '80s with large shoulder pads so the label was used for a while. Good to know because I associate "British Crown Colony" with the '60s and '70s but of course, Hong Kong remained so until 1984, when it transferred to China.
The forums also have a couple of threads about the label, especially this one in which personal information was submitted by a relative of the designer:
Guiseppette wrote on this thread:
The designer is Oscar Montalto. he was my late great uncle on my father's side. He designed original gOwns personally for Princess Grace Kelly. my mother took me as a child to see some of his gowns on display behind glass in New York. my father told me that oscar would sketch his designs on napkins at various restaurants and then absentmindedly leave them behind. He was a brilliant designer and a rare gem. My mother had several gOwns given to her but I do not know what happened to them and both my parents have since passed away. My favorite gOwn that she wore was of coral chiffon with a beautifully beaded bodice.
The forums also have a couple of threads about the label, especially this one in which personal information was submitted by a relative of the designer:
Guiseppette wrote on this thread:
The designer is Oscar Montalto. he was my late great uncle on my father's side. He designed original gOwns personally for Princess Grace Kelly. my mother took me as a child to see some of his gowns on display behind glass in New York. my father told me that oscar would sketch his designs on napkins at various restaurants and then absentmindedly leave them behind. He was a brilliant designer and a rare gem. My mother had several gOwns given to her but I do not know what happened to them and both my parents have since passed away. My favorite gOwn that she wore was of coral chiffon with a beautifully beaded bodice.
The transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from a British Crown Colony to China was June 30, 1997. I think the gown looks like it is from the late 1960's to 1970's but I don't think that these beaded pieces changed very much over the years. The metal zipper puts it a bit earlier - what does the care label under the size label read?
Linn
Linn
Last edited:
Lynn is right about the date of transfer of sovereignty being 1997, (1984 is the year it was agreed).
However apparently 1981 is the year the term British Crown Colony stopped being officially used, with The Britush Nationality Act 1981, which renamed all British Crown Colonies (which included Hong Kong as well as some others, eg The Falkland Islands) as "British Dependant Territories"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_colony
I expect labels using the term after 1981 is the familiar practice of older labels being used up.
However apparently 1981 is the year the term British Crown Colony stopped being officially used, with The Britush Nationality Act 1981, which renamed all British Crown Colonies (which included Hong Kong as well as some others, eg The Falkland Islands) as "British Dependant Territories"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_colony
I expect labels using the term after 1981 is the familiar practice of older labels being used up.
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
Thanks Linn and Ruth - I remember the change over but couldn't remember the exact year. The wikipedia entry lead me down the wrong path.
The dresses I saw on Etsy had the large shoulder pads that were used in the late '80s, so yes, I agree that it's likely they were using up old labels.
The dresses I saw on Etsy had the large shoulder pads that were used in the late '80s, so yes, I agree that it's likely they were using up old labels.
Lovely gown. I have had a number of dresses with that particular label. The ones that I have had were from the 1960s.