Hi all! I threw this up on a facebook vintage dating page and I'm getting lots of different opinions on when this dates from! This was purchased from an estate lot of several dresses from the early 50s. It is home sewn, with a Serval metal zipper on the side. There are no surged/interlocked seams. I'm unsure of the material but the first lacy layer crated a fine grey ash when burnt and the interior layer (not the tulle) created a black bead with some black ash. The photos show different colors but it is the purple/lilac color. The interior photos had terrible light when I took them. I put a crinoline underneath so it's not as poofy as it looks. Thank you so much for your help!
Pretty is right! The lining is likely acetate. Did the outer layer, with the gray ash, smell a bit like wood when you tried burning? If so, maybe rayon or a rayon blend. What is the skirt's length? The overall look is 1950s for sure.
cummerbund waistbands are typically 1956-1962ish, is it full length? if so, it would put it in the earlier part of that time frame. I can't help but think this was probably a bridesmaid dress.