help dating this dress - 1930s?

Jennifer Kietzman

Jennifer Kietzman

Registered Guest
Hello!

Does anyone know when this dress was made? There are no labels, and the fabric is rayon with a taffeta bib and collar plus decorative bakelite buttons and functioning belt buckle. The dress closes via front snaps. I'm guessing it's from the 1930s.

Thanks in advance for your help!

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bakelite 4.jpg
 
Thanks, Barbara, that's very helpful. The hem is out - the center back, as-is, measures 51.5 inches, and the old hemline indicates it would be three inches shorter, hemmed, but even still it's a longer length. It's one of those dresses that has something interesting about it at every turn.
 
I based my dating of early 1930s in part on the longer length. Now that Jennifer has told us the hem was let down 3", that could move it to the mid to later part of the decade, of course. However I also based it on the waistline which is quite high (in the photos, the buckle is hanging low and well below where it would sit). I still think it is early 1930s. By 1938 styles had changed significantly. Whatever the year, it is really fabulous!
 
Vinclothes said:
Are the buttons and buckles bakelite? I also feel the dress is 1930's, but a bit later in that decade - maybe 1937-1938. Love it.
Marian
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Hi Marian,

I have not tested the buttons and buckle and will try to do that tonight. I guess I was just going on a gut feeling. Thanks for your dress read!
 
Rue_de_la_Paix said:
I based my dating of early 1930s in part on the longer length. Now that Jennifer has told us the hem was let down 3", that could move it to the mid to later part of the decade, of course. However I also based it on the waistline which is quite high (in the photos, the buckle is hanging low and well below where it would sit). I still think it is early 1930s. By 1938 styles had changed significantly. Whatever the year, it is really fabulous!
Click to expand...

Hi Barbara,

Is the waistline supposed to be a natural waistline? I wasn't sure and placed the belt at the waist seam, not knowing where it would or should actually fall. Also, just to be clear, the hem is just out - unhemmed the dress measures 51.5 inches in length; hemmed to its original length, the dress would measure 48.5 inches in length.

Many thanks again!
 
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