Dating this blouse, was it a dress?

[Arabella's Treasures]

I have recently purchased some new stock and am having a little trouble dating some pieces. This shirt is made from chiffon with material metal backed buttons and hooks at the top of the neck. The waist has a thin elastic running through which has thrown me a bit. It has shoulder pads that are tiny, as shown in the photos.
I am wondering if this was a dress that was cut down to a blouse, but it has a size label 14 1/2

Can anyone help?

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi!

The print is lovely on your blouse. It looks a lot like a later 1930s print and the style, pads, etc fit that time also. Hard to say just from a photo. I think you might be correct that it was cut down from a dress. 14 1/2 indicates a garment made for a stout or overweight woman and those "half size" dresses were often made short waisted. That short waist can make them fit oddly by contemporary standards and I have seen women make blouses out of them for just that reason.

Someone else may come along and help date it more accurately. It is very pretty.

 

[Arabella's Treasures]

Oh Barbara, thank you so much. It is in such fantastic condition, thank god