I found this dress yesterday while thrifting and was hoping to get some help dating it. There are no tags or labels though the zipper pull is marked STAR. It measures about 36 inches in length though at least a couple extra inches have been hemmed at some point. Inside material is definitely silk not sure what the outside is. The collar is stiff. It has some damage in the sleeves and a bit on the back.
Found Dress at Thrift Store
- Thread starter Modell
- Start date
dollsntrolls
VFG Member
It is in the style of a Cheong Sam, or Qi Pao. But, that fabric pattern does not look traditional Chinese at all. I'm not sure when the Western obsession started with this dress shape, but I have definitely handled the most from the 60s. The collar is a Mandarin collar. You can have a look at our fabric resource and try a burn test to check the fiber content. I would guess that because of the non-tradition fabric (traditional is often silk brocade), this is probably homemade - maybe shortened when hemlines went up - late 60s, early 80s, etc. If it is not fitted, the way a dress would be, it may not have been shortened or could have been made as a Tea Timer - a popular garment seen often in Hawaiian and Tiki culture. But, they are a blouse worn with matching slim pants.
https://vintagefashionguild.org/resources/fabric/
https://vintagefashionguild.org/resources/fabric/determining-fiber/
https://vintagefashionguild.org/resources/fabric/
https://vintagefashionguild.org/resources/fabric/determining-fiber/