Help Dating Dress - 1940s 50s?

DaisyandStella

DaisyandStella

VFG Member
Hi all,
I came across some deadstock cotton dresses that still have Montgomery Ward tags on them. However there are no dates on the tags. Can you help me determine age?
This one has a front metal zipper and has a small tag stating "Charming Lady Cottons" which I found was incorporated in 1940. I did not find any other tag or ILGWU label to help identify era.

I think 1940s or 50s, but would love to narrow it down further. Thanks much!
Brooke
 

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Gosh, I love a vintage house dress. The length could be a giveaway. It doesn't seem long enough to be early 50s. Mid 40s, mid 50s, maybe. Can you put in a close-up of the bodice? These tend to be rather fussy (detailed) in the 40s, according to the ones I own!
 
Thank you both! Here's a close-up of the bodice if this helps further.
 

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Here you go:
One of my 50s house frocks was obtained brand new and unused. It was hemmed! I was thinking that the previous owner must have hemmed it with plans to wear it but never did. One of my other ones has the pique trim that yours has. It's from the early 50s and comes to mid-calf in length. So there you go, it CAN be early 50s!
 
I think it might be either or but I would lean more towards the early 50s. I think that the zipper down the front center is more indicative of the late 40s but I think that the length, the collar, and the print around the collar which actually has a little bit of a western feel to me looks more 50s. I did a little newspaper searching and while the word charming was used a lot during that time I could only find Charming Lady Cotton ads from 1948-1955. Here are a few of the ads I found; one from 1948 with no picture, just showing because it's the earliest I saw, and two from 1955, which interestingly look similar to yours with the exception of them possibly having buttons in front, the pockets being different, and possibly the length varying slightly. This all in combination makes me think earlier than 55 but still early 50s.
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Furwise said:
I think it might be either or but I would lean more towards the early 50s. I think that the zipper down the front center is more indicative of the late 40s but I think that the length, the collar, and the print around the collar which actually has a little bit of a western feel to me looks more 50s. I did a little newspaper searching and while the word charming was used a lot during that time I could only find Charming Lady Cotton ads from 1948-1955. Here are a few of the ads I found; one from 1948 with no picture, just showing because it's the earliest I saw, and two from 1955, which interestingly look similar to yours with the exception of them possibly having buttons in front, the pockets being different, and possibly the length varying slightly. This all in combination makes me think earlier than 55 but still early 50s.
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Wow thanks so much Caryn for all your research! I think to be safe i'll just post 1940s 50s but indicate late 40s or earlier 50s.
 
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