Do you think this is 1930s/40s?

[Tabbyannabel]

Found this cape today in the "Halloween costume" section at a thrift store. I thought it was so pretty I didn't care if it was old or not. However, when I got it home I began to wonder if it really was from the 30s or 40s. The velvet is very soft and it has the most wonderful ruching around the neck. It's a pretty watermelon and black and is reversible. There are no labels at all.

What do you think? What should I look for to tell if it's original?
Thanks,
Tina

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Gorgeous find! It looks late 1920s to me...would love to have seen the dress!!!

 

[Tabbyannabel]

Really? 1920s? So you think it would have had a matching dress originally? That would have been stunning!

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

I see 20s with the collar details also.

 

[foofoogal]

I have a blue velvet with same ruching on the shoulders from that time period. Fabulous. Need to go digging in the costume section of thrift shops. Very pretty.

 

[Tabbyannabel]

I am thrilled to bits! And yes, the Halloween section is a great place to look. Thrift stores sometimes hold onto vintage items just to put out as costumes at this time. I also got a 1960s mens Hawaiian shirt and a couple of lovely hats too. Score!

 

[bycin]

What a find!!

 

[laurenm]

I had noticed last year that there were less 'unusual' clothes/accessories on the racks of my local thrift stores than had been prior years and then they all appeared pre-hallowe'en. I've also noticed that the pricing for this 'section' at Value Village for instance isn't as 'inflated?' as can be in other sections of that store.

 

[Tabbyannabel]

I got the cape at Goodwill. It was for cheap. But then they had a 1970s dress, nothing special, for nearly 3 times as much. Their pricing is all over the place!