Hi all, I'm having trouble dating this lovely gown. The only tag is a Bonwit Teller tag, and since it has 'Boston' on the tag, I believe it must be from after 1947, as that's when the Boston store opened. The style feels later, but the construction feels very 1950s? It has a side metal zipper (Talon). The lining seems synthetic, the outer /may/ be silk chiffon but may also be synthetic. I'd appreciate any help with dating the piece, and any pointers toward similar items / how to price, as I'm struggling to find anything similar! Thanks.
I'm not the best person for dating, but I'm probably the only one who was a teen-ager in the fifties. The dresses I had were strapless and fitted at the waist with full skirts of lace or net. The Bonwit Teller label indicates a better than average garment and the dress is much more sophisticated than mine.
What a lovely gown! The colors are dreamy. What material is the rosette and trim detail made of? Is it beaded? I can't tell. By the way it drapes, it appears to be a silk chiffon with a rayon or acetate lining. Late 1940s to early 1950s is what I'm thinking. Would you grant us permission to add this label to our Label Resource?
Marsha, your response was very helpful for me to see how mid-fifites designs had changed from late 40s to early fifties. Thank you. C
I apologize for the delay in response. Yes, please feel free to add to the Label Resource! It seems to be entirely synthetic. I would say the lining is probably acetate. The chiffon /could/ be silk, but I'm not sure? The rosettes and the bodice are made with tiny glass seed beads and sequins, that have unfortunately greyed with age.
If you can snip a bit of the seam allowance in a non-conspicuous place, you can perform a fiber burn test. It will determine whether it's natural, synthetic or a blend. Here's the one I use - I like it because it's color-coded - but there are many others on the Internet. How would you like to be credited for the Label Resource?
