Can you please help me date this possible Edwardian dress?

furwise

furwise

VFG Vice President
VFG Past President
Hello, Can you all please help me date this skirt and top 2 piece dress. I was told it was Edwardian but that the previous owner could not give me a date. Based on my some of the studying my guess is that it is a 2 piece cotton day dress between 1910-1920 but I have not seen any others like this. The top has snaps and the skirt has two layers. It is a cotton print exclusive of the decoration at the collar. Please forgive all the photos but I would be grateful if you could share your guestimate. Thank you in advance. :kiss2:

This top has snaps and is tucked into the skirt which has wide metal hook and eye closures.
DSC00323.jpg

The snaps in the top go down the front and then there are snaps on each side that snap each side diagonally
DSC00330.jpg

The bottom of the top is not hemmed.
DSC00348.jpg

The next one is the back of the collar. The material a bit rougher than the cotton and is embroidered.
DSC00340.jpg

This one shows the material inside the collar.
DSC00353.jpg

This is the side of the skirt which has two tiers and the top tier is asymmetrical.
DSC00336.jpg

This just shows the upper tier lifted and the bottom tier.
DSC00328.jpg

This last one is the top of inside of the skirt.
DSC00351.jpg


There are no labels and the bustier is not part of the outfit. Thanks again.
 
Hi,

This one is a bit of a puzzler. It is definitely not Edwardian, (it is post 1912), but does appear to possibly be late "Teens to early 1920's. It could be dressmaker made, and as it is a summer dress the lack of interior construction might be OK for that time period. Dresses back then were usually 1 piece, and this is a separate skirt and top...and it has a natural waistline.....possibly has been altered there....hmmm.

At first it looked like a beautifully made reproduction or revival style from the 80's. But the collar looks right on for an antique garment of the 'Teens to 20's, and the skillfully layered tiers of ruffles was a popular style back then also.

It possibly was altered from an even earlier dress as the waistlines changed in position a lot in those years...not sure. The waistband seems added on or changed in some way. The fabric could be a linen voile or similar linen sheer weave fabric.

It is gorgeous!

B
 
Thanks Barbara. The fabric by the collar does feel like voile.

I appreciate the help. :USETHUMBUP:
 
Thank you Mary Jane and Jonathan.

I looked at hobble skirts. They had the natural waist but they looked like a pencil skirt with a ruffle bottom. I did read though that there were some skirts created with asymmetrical lines and tiers during that period also.

I appreciate all of your expertise and think I will go with this being a late teens to early 20s antique with possible alterations.

I am so grateful for your help and will keep checking back in case someone else chimes in.

Thank you kindly.
 
So Barbara, Ok. So should I describe it as a modified hobble style?
 
Hi,

Well, it is hard to define this one as it seems to capture a mix of eras and styles. I would probably not call it a modified hobble style, but perhaps mention that it may have been influenced by that style. I cannot be sure from the photos, I would need to examine it in person to be more accurate.

I might go into my archives and see what dresses I can find that are similar, but that will take a few days.

I adore it.

B
 
You are so sweet Barbara! I appreciate the thought. If you find the time it would be very helpful.
Either way I will definitely take your advice and appreciate the information from everyone else too.
 
You should go through some of the digital online collections available at the NYPL Digital Gallery. There are some good reference fashion plates from 1916 and up until 1919 that show similar dress styles. Women's fashion during these years reflected styles from earlier periods and the sleeves on this two piece dress have a kind of 18th Century influence. I'm not sure "hobble" would be the right description to use.

Could you show a close-up of the fastenings and the inside seams? It looks in great condition.
 
Hi Vertugarde, Thanks for the resource. I will browse the gallery after posting.
Here are some images per your request:

Snaps on the top
DSC00357.jpg


Skirt hooks
DSC00389.jpg


Part of a seam in the skirt and part of the bottom hem inside
DSC00387.jpg


Shoulder seam inside and part of collar inside
DSC00360.jpg


Inside seam where the cuff meets the sleeve
DSC00362.jpg


One more of the bottom hem inside
DSC00388.jpg


So many photos. Please forgive me. I tend to be a little over detailed sometimes. It is good and bad. Thank you all again. This was my first post and you all have been very helpful.
 
Thank you Bycin.

I found a 1915 top and skirt pattern that was very similar to this but it was ankle length. The waistline was right, the ruffled layer made from the same fabric was right, and the asymmetrical shape of the ruffle was right. I then read that the skirt length rose to midcalf in 1916. I am really leaning towards this being somewhere right around 1916.

Asking for your help has been very inspirational and motivational. With the info and tips you all have shared I learned what else I could research myself to further help me date this and other garments too.

I looked at patterns, I looked at several fashion timelines, I looked at different types of stitching, and I looked at closures.

Thank you all very much.
 
Hi,

I think the silhouette is all wrong for 1915-1916. Of course your dress may have been altered as we mentioned....but in the mid Teens the waistline was higher and the skirts were fuller.

I see some evidence of what look like alterations on the inside....

I agree that the NYPL is a great research source.

B
 
HI,

Jonathan.....thanks for agreeing with my initial assessment. From the start I was teetering around 1919 to 1921, but felt it best to say "Late Teens to early 20's" so as not to box myself into a corner.

Jonathan you are always so precise and we appreciate that.

B
 
I know you did Barbara, and I completely agreed with your assessment, but I think my referring to hobble skirts threw vgirl and vertugarde off and they thought I was referring to an earlier style. It's still a hobble skirt, just not the one from 1913/14 that is more famous, so sorry to confuse your accurate appraisal.
 
Great discussion and wonderful examples, Jonathan. I am not well versed in this period and enjoyed reading this thread very much.

I'd also like to welcome Vgirl to the Forum and congratulate her on her excellent photos!
 
Thank you again Barbara. You are awesome and a guru.

Jonathan, those patterns look soooooooo much like what I have. It takes a big woman to admit when she's wrong but I am not a big woman so I won't admit that I am wrong but I will scratch the 1916, lol. After seeing your pattern links I am confident that it is 1919!

You Rock!!! :headbang:

I have some other early dresses that are confusing to me as well. May I create a new topic and post photos of those for all of your help please?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top