Help Dating Wedding Dresses

Morjem911 · Oct 11, 2024

Hello! Just found this page. What a wonderful source of information! I’m hoping y’all can help me.

My daughter is getting married in Italy next summer. While waiting for an appointment at a bridal boutique, we stumbled upon this gorgeous long sleeve, high neck gown in the window of a seamstress shop next door. The owner didn’t have a lot of info, other than 13 years ago a girl had brought it in, said it was her great grandmother’s dress and wanted it altered to fit her. However, she found a dress at the boutique next door instead and just never came back for this one. The seamstress held onto it for 13 years, but decided to sell it when my daughter fell in love with it. It was exactly what she was looking for, but nobody’s making dresses like this anymore.

I’m hoping someone can help me get an estimate on what era you think it may be from.

We also just purchased the sleeveless one as an after wedding reception dress. It had the same feel, and pretty similar detailing to her wedding dress, but a little more casual. Any help aging it would be appreciated as well!

Thanks in advance!

bycinbyhand · Oct 12, 2024

Without seeing and handling the dress myself, I'd say that this is early 1970s, late 60s... something like that. I'll be curious to hear what others say.

With these it's always helpful to see more close up photos... of the interior seams, zipper, the applique pieces to see of what they are made.

The Vintage Vendeuse · Oct 12, 2024

Wow, it fits her so well that it appears to have been made for her, she looks lovely!
To clarify, you are showing two dresses here, one with sleeves, one without... and you are inquiring about the long-sleeved dress?
As Cin says, we need to interior photos, especially the zipper and even its pull. Is it a metal zipper?
Was it found in the US, or the UK, or??

Linn · Oct 12, 2024

What beautiful dresses! Your daughter looks amazing - like the gown has been fitted for her to wear - and is perfect. My feeling is that both of the gowns are late '60s.

Morjem911 · Oct 12, 2024

Hello! Thank you so much everyone!

Yeah, everyone was amazed at the fit. Even the length was perfect. It was a little tight in the shoulders, but the seamstress is going to add buttons down the back and she said that will give her some more room.

I didn’t even think to get inside pics. I have some closeups of the outside, mainly because there was some damage. The ripped arm, and a red spot on the front. I also took a closeup of the back since she’s adding the buttons. And of the bottom lace because a piece was cut out of it that she’s also going to replace. Oh, I do believe it’s a metal zipper.

We found it in Texas, and we’re about 3 hours away. We have another fitting in November though, and I’ll get some inside pics then!

Thank you all again!