Eisenberg & Sons Silk Dress

I recently bought this silk dress, and am trying to date it. Others have said anywhere from 1920's-1950's. The label is the one that was discontinued in early 40's. As you can see, it looks very different on my manni than laid out. Bust is 44, so it is pretty big. The belt is embroidered, and the holes are metal. The belt buckle was once covered with the silk, but it is gone now. Side metal zipper, and unfinished seams.

Any help is greatly, greatly appreciated!

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk5.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk6.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk3.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk4.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk1.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk10.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/indymom810/silk8.jpg">


Thank you!

 

Hi there!

this is pretty! Does it appear to have been shortened? With the
present length of the skirt and the A-line shape, side metal zipper and
what you have said about the label, I think this is early 40s. If you are listing it on ebay, I would use "WWII" or "War Time" in the title, as
people search for this era.

Sue

 

With the side metal zipper, we can weed out the 20s and most of the 30s. I am going to go with a little later date than Sue. The style of the bodice, shoulder line cut of the sleeves sure look mid 50s to me. Are you certain about the label date? Eisenberg used a bunch of different labels over the years and didn't stop making dresses until 1958.

Hollis

 

Hollis, 50s is quite possible and one reason I was wondering if the
skirt had been shortened. The jacket is more in keeping with the 50s also -
correct?

The label info though, if correct, is throwing me back to the war years.

Sue

 

I'm sure about the label dates -- that's the thing that confounds me. There is about a 4" hem on the dress. I'm presuming that it was made for a shorter, busty woman -- 44 is pretty large, even for the 50's.

Another thing I'm wondering about.....Eisenberg's dresses were, from my understanding, embellished with jewelry. They later stopped making the dresses, and just made jewelry. One reason I wondered about it being earlier, rather than later, is the fact that this material is so light that it does not lend itself to jewelry, unless they had it on the center of the front of the dress.

What about the unfinished seams? Does that help with a date at all?

Thanks for all your help! I'm a newbie, but I recognize that this one is special, especially as the belt is still with it, and it is in really good condition.

 

I have a 40s Eisenberg Originals jacket in my store right now, and the label is quite different.

 

That's what is confusing about this dress. From what I am told, and I also found it somewhere on the web, this particular label was used only up till the early 1940's. The style says 50's, but the label doesn't.

I don't know what to do with it, as I want to list it on ebay, but don't want to mislead anyone, and have no idea what to list it for. It's in wonderful condition, except for a stain on the jacket, and that stain is actually lighter than the pictures show.

Suggestions?

 

This is the hard part about dating dresses from photos. It's so much easier when you can handle something!

It's just that this doesn't have the padded shoulders of the early to mid 40s, and everything of Eisenberg's I have seen had the big shoulders in that period. And is usually crepe. And Eisenberg held onto the big shoulder 40s silhouette for some years after the war, just with longer hems. They never really got into the New Look. They had a lot of lines and labels - Eisenberg Originals, Eisenberg and Sons, Eisenberg Suburban, etc.

I don't think the dresses always had pins on them after they started offering the jewelry separately, so that I wouldn't worry about that.

Are the sleeves cut in one with the bodice or is there an armhole seam?
I can't quite make it out. If there is a sleeve seam, it has a chance at being late 30s, but a bit out of fashion. If not - if the sleeves are cut as one with the body, it's most likely 50s.

And what weave of silk is it? It looks like a silk taffeta?

How is the label sewn on?

Hollis

 

It is a very light silk -- almost gauzy. It doesn't have a taffeta feel to it, but it really glows. My friend has been over to look at it also, and just said silk, not taffeta. (I'm such a hopeless newb!)

The tag is sewn on with cross stitches that look handsewn. I don't have it here tonight -- I'll have to look at the sleeves in the morning, when I'm at the store.

Thanks for your help; it's really helping me learn.

 

Ya know, this may be a silly question...
Are we sure it is a dress and not a lounging gown that has been hemmed?
The only Eisenberg that I have had that was not embellished as you mentioned was a pair of airy silk embroidered tap pants..

Just a thought.

Those 50s ladies loved to sew, perhaps a lounging gown became a dress?
Rather ahead of her time though... Thought Madonna started that trend!

Michelle

 

That was my first thought when I saw the dress!

 

Would a lounging gown have had the side zipper, though?

 

OK, I've checked it out, and the sleeves on the dress are cut in one with the bodice. The jacket has sleeve seams.

 

I'm following this thread with interest, because I'm totally confused on the
date of this dress now. I'm still thinking it was earlier rather than later.
I also think it has a 'hostess' or 'lounge' look to the fabric and applique work.

Totally baffled

Sue

 

I know what you mean, and I think the same thing, but it is too structured for lounge. I has a kick pleat in the back of the dress (just noticed that). It also has 2 front darts in the bodice from the waist, and in the skirt, from the waist. It has two side darts, and one back dart on each side in the skirt and the bodice. The hem is about 4", and is doubled underneath that for probably a total of 6" of fabric in the hem, but does not look like it has been redone--it looks like the original seams do.

Jacket has finished seams, dress has unfinished seams.

I'm sooooo confused!

 

The cut where the sleeves are cut in one with the body is a late 40s and 50s cut. You do see dolman sleeves cut in one with the bodice in the 30s, but not this type short sleeve. The 30s were more long sleeves, or elbow length, or puffed.

If it were my dress to describe, without shoulder pads or armhole seams in the dress, I would have to go with 50s.

Hollis

 

I am coming to this thread a little late. ALl i can say i...this is all great detective work!

Chris

 

I had my friend (who is much, much more experienced at this than moi) come over and look at it today, and she thinks it is much older than 50's. This is the problem -- it doesn't show in the pictures the way it looks in person. I really don't know how to list this one, as it is quite a quandary.

What would you list this for, and what would you guess I could get for it? At this time of year, ebay is so unpredictable---and I don't want to give it away for pennies.

Thanks for everyone's help!
Lisa

 

I still can't find the web site that said that the label was last used in the 1940's, but look at the two Eisenberg ads on this page, and the difference between the logo -- the 1941 logo is the same as the one on this dress.

http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/JewelChatAdEisenberg.html

 

Ah! Found the link to the one that shows the tag: http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/labels.php?page=E&mode=search