help dating possible Edwardian era dress?

tuesdaytelegrams

tuesdaytelegrams

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I recently found this gorgeous dress that I think may be from the Edwardian era, but I don't know for sure since I'm not too well-versed on anything pre-1930s!

The dress has an incredible amount of detail: the front has a sheer bib with faux buttons down the front as well as on the shoulders. The bib folds over a few snap closures on the sheer bodice beneath, and there are also snap closures on the skirt (in a half-bib style, if that's what you call it!), as well as one to keep the sash held up at the center of the dress. There are more faux buttons at the wrist, and the sash has small baubles on the ends. The skirt has two layers as you can see, and the back is my favorite bit--the ends of the sash come up on the sheer fabric to create this lovely 'v'. There are also tassels that hang down, which are attached to the front bib part of the dress.

I think that's just about everything, but if you have any questions or need further info, just ask!

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back:
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side closure:
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Lovely dress - I think it's from the late 'teens, so not strictly Edwardian. Also, I think you have it back to front, with the small rows of buttons going down the back, and the cross over sash at the front. I'd like to see it on a mannequin or model so that we can see how it sits properly. Hangers can only do so much, sadly.
 
So do you think the sash crisscrosses in the back (which would be where the bib is) and then ties in the front? I guess I kist assumed the bib seemed like something that would be on the front of a dress, though when I first saw it I saw the side w/the tassels & did think it was the front!

Sadly, I don't own a mannequin, but the dress is really in amazing condition for the age, so if the measurements are my size and I don't think I'll destroy it by trying it on, I'll try that tomorrow and post more photos. Thank you!
 
All those little buttons and tucks are typically late 1910s, but the length and fullness of the skirt makes me think 1916-17ish, after that the skirts get narrower and a little shorter.
 
Lovely! I agree with Jonathan on the dating of circa 1916-1917. It is not Edwardian. It would help to see it on a person, as has been said. I cannot tell the length and the fullness of the skirt, the length of the sleeves and other key clues, but overall it really looks 1916-1917, it has all the elements.
 
Okay, here's some pictures of me in the dress! I'm still confused about which side is the front, so I tried it on both ways, haha. Does anyone else have a guess about that? I think the neckline felt more comfortable in the first way I'm wearing it, but then it shoulder seams felt better the second way. I have no idea why. Also: does the era after Edwardian have a name? Or is it just pre-World War 1, or something?

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WW1 was from 1914 to 1918, so if your dress is 1916-17 it is from the last half of the war. This time is generally called "the teens" although some people (mistakenly) call it the Edwardian era.

Thank you for the extra pics: I still feel the sash crosses over in front, but it's odd the way it is sitting. Have you tried doing different things with it to see how it looks?
 
Nicole: Thank you for the info! I didn't try different things with the sash because it's stitched down almost entirely, except for that little piece that kind of hangs off, which you can see in the last photo. (I suspect it may have been stitched down at one point though.)

I think Jonathan has point though! And either way, I think I prefer they way it looks with the buttons in front...
 
Hello,

Is the criss-cross sash in back attached to the belt/sash in the front of the dress? Just wondering if there is something missing from the top of the sash, as it looks sort of odd just ending the way it does, so plain. I could be wrong, but is there any sign of perhaps another piece that was attached some way to the top (shoulder) area of the back sash....maybe something that came over the shoulders, and had toggles on the ends.

Of course, I might be way off, but to have a sash criss-cross in the back (which I think is right for the dress, the sash goes in back) seems odd from a design standpoint unless it had more to it.

Or, is it at all possible that the back sash goes over the arms and is meant to go to the front of the dress...I hope that makes sense. Sort of like a criss cross sundress straps.
 
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