Date check--is this dress 1940s?

wire9vintage

wire9vintage

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Hi again!

I have this dress that I've been admiring on my dress form for a few weeks, and I still can't make up my mind about it. Is it 1940s? Early? It has no tags to speak of.

It feels like rayon, in this great red and olive green print. It's quite silky to hand. It has a side metal zipper, and a hook and eye closure at the back neck. The shoulders are gathered (rouched?), and it has a faux sash at the waist.

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This is where the "sash" attaches, with this little gather in the skirt, but just on this side.

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As you can see, the front of the skirt hem has fallen, so that's a quick repair I'll have to do. The skirt seems a bit long for a 40s dress, and I've found 1920s examples of this sash style, but only at the hip level, not the waist. Thoughts?
 
Definitely 1940s, it's really lovely. Usually this style with this sort of patterned fabric would not have been in a full length, but perhaps this one was used for evening wear. Generally this same style with this length tended to be black with some sort of beading or sequins at the neckline and shoulder area and around the sash. It looks like a silk or rayon crepe. It's really a lovely find, I love the colours!
 
Shirring! That's the term... I always get that stuff confused and have to look it up every time!

The skirt isn't full length, just longish. It measures 30 inches from the waist seam.

As for size, dang it, it is too small for me. It has a 28 inch waist, about a 38 inch hip, and about a 35 inch bust. The bust is far roomier than that measured flat, but because the dress had to be pulled on over the head...and bust... that narrow skirt and waist call for a much smaller bust than the flat measurement of nearly 40 inches reads!
 
Thank you for the sizing information. Most appreciated!
It's a good wearable size, so another great factor in its favor.
That size leaves me out in certain vicinities too; gosh darn.

However, I found a honey of a rayon dress the other day, so that helps ease the disappointment.
Bought this:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/62137221
 
Joules, that is certainly a honey of a dress! That's a keeper for sure!

Karin, are you SURE you aren't looking for a nice dress in green and red... you know, for Christmas! :hiya:

Oh well... first I need to get that fallen hem back where it belongs. It seems everything I find here lately needs its hem sewn back up. I have a pile of hemming in there to do, and that is about my least favorite thing! Sigh...
 
I could wear that right now for the remembrance concert I'm doing tonight! Do let me know when you list it. I really like the pattern, it has a slightly moroccan feel to it :)
 
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