Help dating Bird Cage Nottingham dress - 60s or 70s?

[Suzy Davies]

Does anyone here know much about the Nottingham boutique Bird Cage, which opened in the mid 1960s? I recently picked up a dress and would love to know when it was made. Judging by the style - it's a simple mini dress with a ruffle front - it looks like it might be from the 60s. And, because of the length, I presume it is a dress rather than a blouse! There's no care label, just the Bird Cage one and a size label which reads '10'. Thanks in advance

 

[Pinkcoke]

I would agree with mid 1960s, I remember seeing some ads from this period about the trend to look young and girly like dolls and think this dress fits in that category with the short length and frills.

 

[Midge]

I agree with Melanie. I see this on Twiggy (or Francie doll) before my mind's eye ... I've got a 60s pattern here for a fairly similar dress, though it has no ruffle but a classic shirt collar. Still, it's a similar style, just looking a little more "grown up".

 

[Suzy Davies]

Thanks for your replies. A friend of mine has a Twiggy label dress that is also similar - shirt style with ruffle.

 

[Jonathan]

Tim Gunn always says that if you have to ask whether its a blouse or a dress, its ALWAYS a blouse! However, in this case, I think its a dress!
Great example of British Mod - It looks 1966ish to me.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree with the above and just wanted to mention that the bust darts look like they've either been added or enlarged, as the stripes meet up very badly, suggesting it wasn't original. If you look at the stitching inside you should be able to tell which.

These shift dresses are very shapeless and are often altered by future wearers I find, to accentuate curves a bit more.

 

[Suzy Davies]

Thanks all for your really helpful comments. If the darts aren't original then they've been added rather than enlarged (judging by the stitching inside).