dating hook closure dress - which side is the front?!

hello all - having trouble dating this dress. it is a sheer material, there is some color bleed throughout & staining. there are two side pockets, no shoulder pads. there is a hook closure with boning on both sides and i can't tell if it's meant to be worn in the front or back. i've attached some photos any help would be much appreciated!

 

i know it's silly but i really can't tell

 

I am by no means an expert in women's fashion, but to me, from the pictures on the mannequin, it looks like it closes in the back? Or at least it seems to look better that way, with a better fit over the chest, where it seems to sag a bit more in general with the hooks in front??

 

No bust darts - there are two seams in the center on the side with no closures.



The side with closures has gathering on the sides and is baggy, leading to confusion on my part thought that may be room for bust? but completely unsure

 

any thoughts on decade? also puzzled with that

 

It's using the corset hook and eyelet closure, which was used from c. 1940 to 1955, especially by Claire McCardell. The dress looks early 50s to me. and I would say it closes in the back...

 

Thank you both so much! Sincerely appreciate it, just looked at some Claire McCardell dresses and they do look very similar. Thanks again!

 

I agree back closure and 1950s.

If these came with the floral blouse, then the blouse may be home sewn for the 1950s.

 

Closure does look much better in the back. This dress came from a different collection than the floral blouse