Ceil Chapman Dress

sMarie

sMarie

Registered Guest
I found this dress at a garage sale over the weekend.

I was so happy and I felt really lucky! After I put it on my mannequin, no so much. I still need to edit the background of the pictures, but I suspect that won't do much.

So, I have a few questions.

Should I have this dry cleaned? I don't know of a really good dry cleaner, so I would be risking it a bit.

I read that Ceil Chapman was know for her draping. Does that make this dress more desirable than others that don't have draping?

Do you think this dress is desirable outside of it's being collectable? Honestly, I respect the design techniques, but I don't particularly like this dress. I have looked at what Ceil Chapmans dresses are going for and I just don't see this dress selling for several hundred dollars (It's really in great condition).

What is the fabric? The picture that is lightest shows the sheen and true color the best. Silk taffeta maybe?

And last but not least, is it 40s or 50's? I saw that she used the color brown a lot in the mid 50's, but she may have been using it for a while, I don't know...

Thank you! You all do so much for the vintage clothing world!


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I wanted to add that I really like Ceil Chapmans designs/dresses. I am just not particularly fond of this one, but it is growing on me. I think it looks better in the pictures than in person. I do think it would look incredible on the right woman.

Kudos to the woman that can pull this off!
 
I'll wait for the experts to comment, but if I found something like that at a garage sale I would pass out. (At first I thought it was leather! ) I'd guess 50's and I am in an area with no decent dry cleaners, so I pass that on to the buyer when I worry about a dress.
 
I think it is pretty special, and I'd pass out, too!

I can see it going for hundreds of dollars! Both the cut of the bodice and the extreme draping/ruching at the hip are pretty cool, even for a Ceil! I would not have it cleaned if you don't have a cleaner you can trust without doubt.

But, what I would do is.... steam out the wrinkles, especially at the bottom of the skirt; put a bra on your dress form and stuff it as needed to fill out the bustline; the waist looks too big and too long for your dress form, and it's OK to either use a rubber-tipped clip or straight silk pins to very gently take it in to show the correct shape of the dress on a right-sized body. (Personally, I'd used a padded clip and steam out any "indentations" left after you shoot it.) Unstuff the arms, or use less stuffing (a narrow, long roll of bubble wrap can work wonders). You don't need to try and mimic a "real" arm in there, just enough to give the viewer a good idea of the shape of the sleeve, and to show off those great cuffs!

You can spiff up those photos and this will present even "lovelier"!
 
I think it is more of a rayon taffeta. Ceil did not shy away from using man made fibres and the complexity of the ruching needs some stiffness to handle the hip swag.

I tend to agree with you concerning the dress. To me the top half looks daywear and the bottom cocktail hour. It is a marriage I have seen Ceil do before and I am not sure it works as well as some of her other cocktail dresses with the more glam upper.

On the right figure of course it would look spectacular and has a film noir quality.

That brown that she uses is not the most popular of her palate colours in terms of a sale. Black always does well and red is really sought after.

If your dry cleaner is reliable and can handle pressing, I would get it cleaned but... any doubt then don't. Use a cleaner who can handle bridal and couture. If they cannot press the draping correctly it will of course spoil it.

It may fetch a good price but we are in bad economic times so don't expect a massive result.

If you have a model like friend with a pair of ridiculously high heels, it may be worth persuading her to model it. Lots of red lippy and attitude.
 
I'd love to see it with a nice string of creamy pearls--I think that would help with the more casual look of the top.

And I agree with Anne on having it modeled if you know someone who can do it--and yes on the higher-than-high heels and the red lips!
 
Those who wear Yohji Yamamoto or Yoehlee will LOVE this. That chocolate brown is yummy.
 
I do think part pf the display issue it that it is just too big for your form. It needs more bust, waist and hips. The waist should be snug enough to support all that draping and not look dragged down. It's a darn good find. Anne's assessment is excellent.

Hollis
 
It's a beauty! As everyone else has said it just needs to be shown more to its advantage as this is a more tailored look which needs to fit properly and it is simply too large for your manni.

If you can't trust a dry cleaner and own a good steamer just steam it up to freshen it up.

Super find, congrats!
 
I just wonder. Who has something like this at a garage sale?? Lucky you! My oh my..it just goes to show what you might really find at garage sales. Caryn
 
I am in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with this dress and would wear it day/evening/grocery store! May I ask what the measurments are? Please let me know when you decide to sell.

The only thing I ever find at garage sales is fun junk- never treasures like this! What a find!
 
Thank you Mingus107!

Here are the measurements:

Bust:38"
Waist:30"
Hip:44"
Total Length:51"

If you're still interested, can you give me your email address? That way I can let you know when and where I'll be listing it.
 
I am CRUSHED!!!! Sadly, this gorgeous dress is too big for me. Which NEVER happens in real life vintage. Ever. I had gone so far as telling my husband (who is very supportive of my vintage addiction), "I have found my birthday gift!!!! I don't want anything else!". Normally I'd want this dress anyway, since I have an incredible seamstress who could carefully take it in for me. But that would be a crime. Where is the crying/sobbing with disappointment emoticon?
 
I Love this Dress

First, I love anything Ceil Chapman. Secondly, this is such an unusual Ceil! It really does look very 21st century with references to the Japanese designers. True, brown isn't my favorite color, but I imagine that someone who collects Ceils will love this for the novelty of it and, those who love Yohji etc, will adore this dress because it's an early example of what later became such a powerful look and it's done by one of the great 40s-50s designers.
camelbackcat
joey
BTW, I'm back after a long absence !!!!!

:drinkingtoast:
 
joey!!! holy cow, i haven't seen you in like forever. i blinked twice when i saw camelback cat as the last poster of this thread. how the heck are you?? i hope you're well.

okay, i'm dying here. all of the photos say 'this photo or video has been moved or deleted,' and i really want to see this ceil! this is cruel :cry:
 
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