Dating thoughts on a dress - 60s?

[Midge]

Still working on all the stuff that's been left lying around. I bought this dress in Vienna on my new years'-trip, at the same place where I found the brown 30s dress.

My thoughts were 60s - I'd just like to know what you think. It looks like it was home made (machine sewn, but not quite the expert work that I would expect from a dressmaker - reminds me of my own sewing ), the fabric feels a little coarse and has a slightly looser weave. Could be wool, could be synthetic - no idea.

Overall length about 97 cm or 38 inches. There are two belt loops for a relatively wide belt (about 5cm or 2 in.). Metal zip in the back (it's broken and I'll have to replace it). The sleeves have long, tight cuffs closing with a row of small buttons and fabric loops. It is lined, but only the "body" of the dress - the sleeves are unlined. And the lining has a cute secret at the bottom :D - never seen anything like that before.

The color is difficult to photograph - in the photos it shows up as a more emeral hue than it actually is - it is really an absolute kelly green - maybe I should take it with me on my holiday for St. Patrick's Day ...

Karin

 

[Jonathan]

The fabric reads like a rayon crepe in the pics - or maybe a poly crepe. It looks early-mid 70s to me, c. 1973ish

 

[MyVintageCocktail]

I agree with Jonathan; although the silhouette looks quite 60s, those long buttoned cuffs were omnipresent in the 70s!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Agree with early '70s - Karin, I recommend doing a burn test if you can, to work out if it's wool or synthetic. Or you could do my easy wool test: get it wet and smell. Wet wool has a very distinctive smell.

Nicol

 

[superfineday]

Love that secret at the bottom! So very sweet!

 

[Midge]

Thanks everybody! Will try to test it for the material.

Karin

 

[Catbooks1940s]

looks like a loosely woven wool from here.

 

[Midge]

So... finally got around to buy the necessary stuff and get this dress back in to ship. I just put in a new zip and mended the one hole there was in the fabric. I just tried it on - really tried it on this time. Because if the defect zip, my trying it on at the shop had been just a good guess. Anyway, it fits perfectly and has a nice length to just above the knees - it will look gorgeous with high boots!

There's quite a lot of fabric allowance in the middle back seam below the zip, so I snipped a little bit out and did my first burn test. It melts - so it must be synthetic. I'm not good with smells, but my guess is acrylic according to the chart I have.

Karin