Dress w/ plastic zipper - 50s? 60s?

blubirdboutique

blubirdboutique

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Hello all :)

First, I love this forum - it is filled with so many helpful, knowledgeable people! What a treasure.

My latest find is this little lacy dress. I immediately thought of the 50's new look with the full skirt and cinched waist. But, the zipper on the side is plastic, so now I'm confused.

Any thoughts? Might it be later, perhaps 60s? Or maybe someone replaced the original zipper?

Thank you!
 
I'd have to see the zipper but that dress sure looks mid-50s to me. The original would have a metal zipper...so it's been replaced, as you say, my feeling.
 
It could be an original nylon zipper--these were being used commercially in the 50s, but did not come into widespread use, especially for the home-sewing market, until the 60s. If we could see the zipper and the placket stitching, it would be easier to guess at whether the zipper is a replacement or not. In any event, it is lovely, and certainly looks 50s!
 
If its from the 50s it has also been shortened by about a foot. The proportions are wrong for the 50s, but it may have been chopped for the early 60s. It may have had a nylon zipper put in at the same time and the original brass or silver metal zipper removed in an attempt to modernize the dress.
 
How deep is the hem and how is it finished on the inside? That will tell you a lot , too. I agree it looks short. I would bet there was at least another 6" of taffeta visible below that lace. Mid 50s shortened in 1960ish?

Hollis
 
I concur, it could have also been a hem repair? but you may get lucky and they didn't chop it off just hemmed it up... is there and allowance? I also agree about getting a picture of the zipper...

another clue about the zipper... the araly plastics had actual teeth. plastic yes but not coiled like todays. So if it is teeth, then I would say original zipper~

QUESTION does anyone know when the plastic transitioned from teeth to coil.... I better know before I give advice lol!
 
It does look like there is about a 2-inch hem that could be let out, but definitely not very much there. Probably not worth it for me to fix it.

Here is a photo of the zipper: The zipper says "Talon" on it and along the length of the fabric it says "iron like nylon avoid hot iron"

Thanks everyone!
 
yeah me too, but an older replacement zipper.... because of the instructions on the zipper. I have come across a few of those ... anyone know what era that zipper is from?
 
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