Dating 'Styled in California' label, 60's?

[Robin of Frocksley]

This is the only label in a cotton dress, and I've had no luck searching for it. The font/graphics scream 60's to me, but ? Happy to provide pics of the dress if needed. Thanks!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Hi Robin, I haven't seen that label, but it seems to me that it would be an adjunct label, in addition to the manufacturer's/designer's label. It looks like it could be '50s - if you can show pics of the dress we can help date it. Thank you.

 

[Robin of Frocksley]

Thanks, Nicole! Here are pics of the dress, inside and out. The lining is discolored etc, but the print and colorway are so great I couldn't resist. The California label is the only remaining label, sadly. It looks like the other label was probably cut out for comfort. Thanks again!

 

[Pinkcoke]

That's gorgeous Robin! gotta love harlequin. Looks 60s to me. Has it been shortened though? the proportions of the bodice v skirt don't look right from the lining.

 

[Robin of Frocksley]

Thanks so much, Melanie! Here is a pic of the skirt hem (it appears original to me as it is sewn in the same thread as the rest of the garment, but I'm still learning how to spot alterations). The bodice is a bit "long" to my eye, but not as long as a drop waist. The bodice measures 16" long from shoulder to waist. The skirt is 24" long from waist to hem. Thanks again!

 

[Pinkcoke]

Yes it looks like both lining and outer fabric have been shortened to me (see the right hand side, where the turnover was too shallow to keep the edge from fraying), I was wondering it was full length originally.

 

[Robin of Frocksley]

Interesting! I had assumed the short turnover was simply cost cutting/poor manufacturing. The thread used throughout the dress and the stitching match the hem, so I suppose if it was shortened, the seamstress would have salvaged thread from the cut-off remnant to sew the hem? Thank you so much for helping, it's fascinating to learn how to spot alterations accurately.

 

[Pinkcoke]

It doesn't usually get that cost saving until recent years (90s+)
I wouldn't go as far as to suggest she reused the thread - I've only done that once, with a red nylon thread I knew I wouldn't be able to get again, and I pulled off the entire overlocked hem's thread in one piece after it got snagged, to re-sew it onto the sheer skirt again. It's far too much trouble for most. They likely just found a good match. Having just resewn a mid century dress that was altered at least 3 times, I can appreciate the lengths some people go to to match a colour (nutcases like me) I was removing three different black threads, the only difference being one was slightly reddish and another slightly thicker.
It's not just that frayed edge that makes me suggest it was shortened - the hem of the skirt dips down lower on either side, being bias this suggests to me that it was laid out flat and cut across in a straight line, rather than on a person or in the round, which would result in an uneven hem.

 

[Robin of Frocksley]

Fascinating! Thank you again. I imagine that as a full-length dress it would read even more 60's.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree with '60s and shortened - Melanie's right in that reusing thread isn't really done. It's never been expensive enough to justify the work in unpicking and a good seamstress will match the thread. I have hundreds of threads (vintage and modern) and always match to the colour of the original thread, rather than the fabric.