Dress date help

crinolinegirl

crinolinegirl

Alumni
This one is definitely 40's but which end? :)

It's made out of parachute "silk" and the collar and shoulders are padded!
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/fsimages/dress/shoulderdress1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/fsimages/dress/shoulderdress4.jpg">

This one is 1970's right? It looks to me like a 1930's inspired dress fashionable during the mid 1970's. It's made out of rayon crepe with a crisp nylon lining. Nylon zipper and black enamled hook & eyes along with a sewn in tag recommending a long defunct dry cleaner in Surrey! It's sleeveless but had a built in "shoulder cape" for modesty..

<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/fsimages/dress/crepedress1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/fsimages/dress/crepedress2.jpg">

Lei
 
I am sure the second one is 70s.

The first one I am not sure, but i do recall seeing some movie with something wearing something similar but can't remember what one.
 
This may not be any help what so ever but the wedding dress is most likely to be made from German parachute silk from a shot down air man.
It could be from any time 1939 to 1945 the earlier most probably, it could have been kept for a number of years.

I say German because you could morally justify pinching German parachutes more than British one.

The other source would be shot down UK/US air crew most likely over the south of the UK in the earlier years.I would add that I do not know what state a used parachute would be in after been dragged along the ground and be enough usable material for big items, plenty of fabric for small items but large one.


The parachute regiment was very small at the start of 1941 and trained at to days Manchester Air port, they would only have had 1 or 2 practice jumps before going operational and would be fined or in big trouble if they lost their parachute on these, unlike it came from them.

For me the most likely date would be just after 1945 from war surplus , or sent home by troops/airmen stationed abroad, this could be even into the early 50's

I did say it's not much help but I would put my money on late 40's from the parachute silk only.
 
Lei I love it! I am going to have to read my wedding dress book again, was too hot yesterday. That is fantastic though, very Guinevere which actually makes me think earlier rather than later but again the silk thing throws me-great info Paul!

I'll post a picture of what I wondered was maybe parachute silk later on.

Definitely 70s on the second.
 
Aside from the parachute material issue, I would have said early 40s on the wedding gown (which is, BTW, fabulous!).

Yes, 70s on the second, and probably mid to late, I think. The built-in shoulder cape looks later than those separate capes that were very poplular in the earlier 70s; at least I think so....
 
Reading Paul's info kind of made me think that it was the parachute was brought home and saved a young soilders life so the girl decided that it would be the perfect material to make their wedding dress in b/c it brought her beloved soilder home to her!!!!

The romantic in me got loose.......:spin:
 
Reading Paul's info kind of made me think that it was the parachute was brought home and saved a young soilders life so the girl decided that it would be the perfect material to make their wedding dress in b/c it brought her beloved soilder home to her!!!!

The romantic in me got loose.......:spin:
 
Just dug this out from:-
http://www.weddingspastandpresent.co.uk/rations.php


How the rationing of material affected making a Wedding Dress

A Wedding Dress made from Parachute Silk

In the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, there is a Wedding Dress which can be viewed by appointment only, made from heavy duty parachute silk.

The dress dates from 1944 and was made by Helen Drew. It has a 'Princess' line with long sleeves stiffened and gathered at the shoulders and a narrow 'V' neck.

In the late 1940's the War Production Board released guidelines "L-85", which restricted the amount of cloth that could be used by clothing manufacturers.

Silk material for Wedding Dresses was very limited. At the end of the war there was a surplus of parachute material and ladies were encouraged to purchase this material for Wedding Gowns. In order to entice the brides to be, to purchase surplus material, a bundle of the material was made available along with a pattern for the Wedding Gown.
 
Here's mine that I was wondering about from memory - the bodice and sleeves are rayon satin, but the skirt and panels is almost sheer and very light. Hard to see in the photo as the flash reflects off it.






Think mine is rayon or some other synthetic nylon like affair.

So I don't think mine is parachute silk but yours looks like it is.. my Grandad (ww2 RAF, and acts as my reference occasionally) is coming over on Sunday, so shall have to get him to look at your photos and see what he reckons!
 
I agree with Paul. I was hoping it was wartime but the style is just too late 40s. If you mentally subtract the shoulder pads, it looks post New Look. The shoulder pads push it back though. They are so pronounced, I think it must date from c. 1947ish, just when the two styles are blending. It must be made of post-war surplus parachute silk.
 
Thanks guys, late 40's it is! I thought it looked my New Look than Art Deco-ey but I guess since it is a transistional style, then it would have elements of both. :)

Lei
 
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