Help dating short sleeve shawl collar blouse in floral pattern. Mid Century?

[Andrii]

Would appreciate your opinion on this one. It is homemade, the seams are zigzagged instead of surged. The vertical darts on shoulders, plastic buttons. The fabric is probably rayon / viscose, has that waffle like texture, this is the best way I can describe it. Would you call it it boxy? I can guess early 1960s, but I’m not very good so would love to hear what you think

 

[bycinbyhand]

I think it's 80s.

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

I agree with 1980s, possibly late 80s/early 90s.
That's just the sort of thing I was wearing back then!

 

[Andrii]

Thank you! I can see how this pattern could work for late 80s - 90s style. I still think it is an earlier item though. Judging by the way it’s made, seams, darts etc. Also the buttons doesn’t look 80s to me. I will attach the photo where they’re more apparent. Would love to hear more opinions from you guys

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

Sorry, I still think 80s/90s... that floral and the colors, as well as the shaping.

 

[Jen S]

I agree, it looks 80s.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I also see 1980s.

 

[plousia]

Sorry to add to the parade rain but my first thought was also 80s... That's after making my own mistakes and having the good people here correct me. 80s styles can look very similar to earlier ones, and handmade garments are harder to date, but with time you learn to distinguish them.

 

[Shusteroo]

I'm seeing either 1970s or 80s

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Another vote for 80s

 

[bycinbyhand]

Thank you! I can see how this pattern could work for late 80s - 90s style. I still think it is an earlier item though. Judging by the way it’s made, seams, darts etc. Also the buttons doesn’t look 80s to me. I will attach the photo where they’re more apparent. Would love to hear more opinions from you guys

Still looks 80s to me. How the sleeves are set and their shape. Shape of the bodice. That 'shawl' collar was popular in the 80s. Buttons might be the only 'older' element on this, nodding to the 50s maybe? But a lot of home sewers have stuff around and use it in later years.

 

[Jen S]

There were buttons like this in the 80s.

 

[Andrii]

I'm seeing either 1970s or 80s

I could agree with 1970s, particularly color palette. After all they had a 1940s trend in the seventies. But which 1980s - early, mid, late? It’s not particularly badly made, but because of the seams, the fabric, buttons it just doesn’t feel as resent as late 80s to me. If I saw it from a distance or in the photo I could see it, but when you have it in your hands it just feels different

 

[Andrii]

Still looks 80s to me. How the sleeves are set and their shape. Shape of the bodice. That 'shawl' collar was popular in the 80s. Buttons might be the only 'older' element on this, nodding to the 50s maybe? But a lot of home sewers have stuff around and use it in later years.

Are you familiar with those vertical darts that goes down from the middle of the shoulder? My wife thought that is a very 1960s detail. And I could see the silhouette being a bit similar to the boxy jacket trend of the early 60s, like Jackie O style. I think I also need to examine the armhole measurements that may give a clue. Thanks for your input it’s just still hard for me to imagine why would anyone use this seams technique in the 80s, not only lack of surging but the way seams are made as well. Also, do you think it’s late or early 80s?

 

[Andrii]

Thank you all! If it’s 1980s what decade it draws inspiration from? Does anyone see mid century influence here or am I the only one?

 

[Jen S]

The fabric and colorway look very 80s to me. The construction details you point out, while hard to see, seem consistent with a homemade piece. The 80s took influence from the 40s, and this blouse looks to me like a modified version of a 40s blouse.

 

[bycinbyhand]

I am familiar with the type of darts and the silhouette. The 80s 'nodded' to many eras and appropriated them. So the combo I see here, as well as the fabric and its colors point to 1980s.

Why the seam technique... in the 80s... first, there have been surged seams for long long time now. You may see them on commercially produced menswear in the Edwardian era. A home sewers would used a few techniques to finish a seam - from French seams to a quick zig zag along the edge. There were pinked seams too. Which the home sewer might choose depending on, my theory, skill level. I have seen gorgeous French seams on seamstress made gowns but my grandmother used them on most everything because that's how she learned in the 1930s.

If I were going to pick an end of the 80s for this... mid to around 1988... that collar was really popular then. Think Donna Karan.

But you seem dead set on this being 40s. lol

 

[Andrii]

I am familiar with the type of darts and the silhouette. The 80s 'nodded' to many eras and appropriated them. So the combo I see here, as well as the fabric and its colors point to 1980s.

Why the seam technique... in the 80s... first, there have been surged seams for long long time now. You may see them on commercially produced menswear in the Edwardian era. A home sewers would used a few techniques to finish a seam - from French seams to a quick zig zag along the edge. There were pinked seams too. Which the home sewer might choose depending on, my theory, skill level. I have seen gorgeous French seams on seamstress made gowns but my grandmother used them on most everything because that's how she learned in the 1930s.

If I were going to pick an end of the 80s for this... mid to around 1988... that collar was really popular then. Think Donna Karan.

But you seem dead set on this being 40s. lol

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Cinthia! I really appreciate that. I just wanted to make sure the construction is clear from the photos and taken into consideration as it is hard to see due to the pattern. By the way I wasn’t saying anywhere this to be 40s at all, I initially thought this might be 60s. But as I said I don’t think I am very good at dating homemade garments. Thanks again, Andrii

 

[bycinbyhand]

You're very welcome! Happy to help, if I can!