Help me date this western? dress...

[thevintagebungalow]

Hi all,
I picked up this great dress recently. I'm stumped as far as the era goes. My first instinct was 60's but once I had it on my dummy, it seemed very 50's. Take a look and tell me what you think. The white part is sweater knit. The blue is a woven fabric (cotton perhaps) made to look like denim. The bodice has curleques and white plastic beads. It has a matching belt with leather ties (Do you like the way it looks tied with a bow or hanging straight down?). The label says Melissa Lane. I wanted to list it right away but upon close examination I found that one underarm had some faint yellowing and now I'm trying to decide if I want to try to clean it or sell as is. Any help with any of the above would be much appreciated!
Carrie

Click photo to enlarge...
<center>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1941.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1941.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1936.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1936.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1937.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1937.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1942.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1942.jpg"></a>
<br><br>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1946.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1946.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/100_1950.jpg" target="_blank">
<img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k50/wellbornideas/th_100_1950.jpg"></a>
</center>

 

[hipvintage]

I think it looks early to mid 70's. Like 1974.

BUT, I'm no expert!

Hopefully others will have some more input.

Janine

 

[themerchantsofvintage]

Alors, c'est tres, tres COOL! Can't say I've seen anything like it, but style wise, I agree with Janine, in fact I wore that cut (in dresses) starting in 1973.

 

[themerchantsofvintage]

Just realized it is a dress!!! Thought it was a skirt/top; so yes, 73-74.

 

[hipvintage]

haha, Deborah!

That's exactly how I was basing my judgement of this - what I was wearing at that time and how this reminded me such things.

I remeber around '74 '75 I had a bunch of those wide-ribbed turtleneck sweaters/tops with the slim-cut long sleeves and the skirts were this fuller cut.

Then the skirts got even LONGER after that.

Janine

 

[thevintagebungalow]

Thanks everyone! My first instinct was late 60's early 70's so I wasn't too far off. I think this dress is so cool, I wish I coud fit it. It would look so great with a pair of cute inlaid cowgirl boots. Thanks for all of your help!
Carrie

 

[markniklas]

Thanks every one..
These dresses are so cool and comfortable also.. I think it looks too much good in girls.. The colors are also very nice and style as well...