Flapper wedding dress etc. ?s

themerchantsofvintage

themerchantsofvintage

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Oh if only I were getting married and I was small enough! I begrudgingly went shopping today (HONEST :D) and I'm so glad I did. I paid a small fortune, but I'm hoping it will pay off.

This is the softest most delicate piece of clothing I have ever had the pleasure of touching. And I love the detail of the pearls, ostrich and silk ribbon with pearls knotted at the end. These are prelim photos (my manni isin't terrif for this period). The dress comes with the tiara (? not sure if that's what it is called), ultra delicate veil that has the matching pearl detail on all four corners, gloves (very dirty leather), silk stockings (!!!) and an extra veil-like length 6" x 100" but I don't know what it's for.

I don't want to trust it to a cleaner, nor do I want to try and iron some of the pleats back into place. I'm terrified to steam it and I'm wondering if I just let it hang if nature will get rid of the wrinkles?

What did they do in the period to keep the tiara in place? This one is very big and no one would have had a head that big?

Would you sell the silk stockings separately or keep them with the set?

As always, many thanks!!!















 
Wow. I cant give a speck of advice, but that is indeed exquisite. I'm all for keeping things together, especially wedding related, for what thats worth. That should do well, Jody's 20s one did superbly! Ang
 
DON'T STEAM IT! I know those pleats in that silk and the pleats will come out. I would hang it for a while and let gravity do its job. You could introduce it into a steamy room, like the bathroom during a shower to see if that will gently take the wrinkles out. I bet the length of veiling might have been the ribbon for the bouquet?
 
Thanks everyone!!! I feel like a kid who got a shiney brand new toy...

Got it - I will not steam! Will not go NEAR water - especially after the disaster I had with the velvet wedding dress.

For a bouquet sounds right Jonathan because it is rather holey in weird places.

I'm thinking if I had a wig on the manni the tiara may sit better, but it would still be big and looking more closely at the veil I'm thinking that too would have have been positioned differently but I'm not sure how. Could there have been a matching floral poof like the one on the side of the dress to pin onto the tiara?
 
You have the tiara aka bandeau positioned correctly - how big does it measure around on the inside? Anything up 21" to 23" would be within normal range.


Lovely dress - the ostrich feathers are an unusual feature. Keep it all together - even the dirty gloves. And any provenance you can get will raise the value.

Hollis
 
Hollis, thank you! 23" bang on. Bandeau sounds much more appropriate for some reason. Unfortunately, there is no provenance. I bought it off a collectables dealer who had it hanging on a wire hanger (I hear the gasps...) and did not know the history.
 
That would mean a biggish head for a gal with a lot of hair, but doable. Most women seem to be 22 - 22 1/2.

I have a teeny head at 21 1/2, which means I can wear most vintage hats! If it's too small for me, it's too small for almost anybody. This make sup for the sz 8 feet.


Hollis
 
Thanks, Harriet! I almost put "Harriet don't look!" in the title - LOL - but I stopped myself.

Great tips, Carrie, thanks! None of my wigs are bob cut (at least I think that's how they wore their hair - short and straight with bangs) and I don't have a decent head, but I will try other things out. In the meantime I'm waiting for gravity to do its thang - I just wish it were faster!
 
I've been doing some research and I think this style is somewhere between 1925 to 1927. Would you agree?

And is there a name for this type of sleeve? (Flounced edge???)
 
I can't quite tell - is the edging sewn on or is it part of the fabric? It kind of looks like tatting to me, but I can't see well enough to be sure.

Laura
 
I still can't see the trim well enough to be sure, but I think it's tatting. I need to be able to see the trim's stitches to be sure, but someone with more experience with needlework might be able to tell from the photos you've posted.

Not sure what to call the sleeve shape...Maybe a modified bell sleeve? Or perhaps just an elbow-length sleeve with a very long, pleated flounce?

Laura
 
Thanks, Laura. Pleated founce sounds good (beats my flounced edging - LOL). I've done a better CU as well as the underside. Each floral petal is threaded to keep it in position.



 
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