help dating appliqué dress
- Thread starter Aimee
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Pinkcoke
Alumni
That's lovely. It's quite short though so I'm suspect it may be later. Can you give the skirt length? Can you also show the shoulder pads? any labels.
I can't see any applique either - were you using this to describe the floral print? Applique literally means applied so applies, no pun intended, to patches of fabric or embroidery that are attached on top of the garment.
I can't recall a border or engineered print being using in this fashion on 1940s garments previously. It's much more of a 1970s-modern use of print.
I can't see any applique either - were you using this to describe the floral print? Applique literally means applied so applies, no pun intended, to patches of fabric or embroidery that are attached on top of the garment.
I can't recall a border or engineered print being using in this fashion on 1940s garments previously. It's much more of a 1970s-modern use of print.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
That is a very attractive dress and I love the pattern and colors. Just from the photos, I see very late 1930s to very early 1940s. Can you show a close up of the fabric? If it is a rayon crepe, that might indicate it is from that time period. It may have been shortened, although the length is right for that time period too. Depending on the height of the original owner. I have a few 1940s rayon dresses with a print on the shoulder tops, (and one has it also along the hem area) but not in a crepe weave (mine are a smooth rayon). I also have an early 1940s black crepe suit with red and pink roses that at first appears as if the pattern is printed across the shoulders, but it is actually finely appliqued. My suit also has appliques on the peplum sides of the jacket. That suit has snaps on the jacket, cuffs, and skirt.
Your dress shoulders also have a typical late 1930s smocking stitching. I might think a 70s repro would not have that added feature, but of course it is hard to tell from the pictures.
What kind of closures does it have and where are they placed on the dress?
If you can take a few more photos, a close up of the flowers that also shows the fabric weave, that will help determine its age.
Your dress shoulders also have a typical late 1930s smocking stitching. I might think a 70s repro would not have that added feature, but of course it is hard to tell from the pictures.
What kind of closures does it have and where are they placed on the dress?
If you can take a few more photos, a close up of the flowers that also shows the fabric weave, that will help determine its age.
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gathering*vintage
Registered Guest
What a lovely dress! Just based on the style, I would say early to mid 1940s. The length would definitely be right for wartime.