Help on 30s? dress...

L

Lucitebox

Registered Guest
I could use your help. I don't really deal with much pre-WWII stuff.
I was thinking this is from the '30s. Do you think so, too?

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/01.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/02.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/03.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/04.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/05.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/06.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/08.jpg>

I'll talk to you about it, and I'd appreciate your thought on it, too. The dress is a sleeveless affair with lace (REALLY gorgeous lace) at the yoke. There's a matching longer jacket with big billowy sleeves. It's pleated in the back. This is made of moss crepe fabric that is a deep burgundy color with quite a bit of brown to it, but still, it's maybe not as brown as you see here. (My camera is being a *#%#@$ tonight.)

This is from the Edna Collection. I recently got a lot of mostly '50s items from one woman who had distinctive things that I enjoy looking at. A lot of it is really youthful and sweet. This seems so much more mature I think it's also the earliest piece I've found in the lot which tells me that maybe it wasn't hers.

You've seen one of Edna's 40s dresses here--the one w/the golden bullion embroidery--here.

If I don't come back to your forum this evening, don't be alarmed. I am fading. Fast.
Thanks.
Holly
 
I'm looking at the pics on my iPhone so I need to look on my Pc later to help with the dating, but I can say that it looks like it's on back to front. Will pop back later for a proper look.
 
Thanks, Lynne!

Well, I seriously doubt that it's on backwards. The way it's shown, the Semone label appears in the back of the neck. The side snap closure is on the left side when worn (not when facing the garment.)

I'd be utterly flummoxed to learn that this is on the manni backwards. Mainly because it would look bad the other way and it took me a long time to adjust the color to get the pics as uniform as they are. (The photos aren't even that good...waaaahh....)

Oh, and good morning, all. It's 42º here today. I did not want to get out of bed. Last week, it was in the upper 70s and 80s!

Holly
 
Phew. Thanks, MS! I thought I was going to have to have a melt down because this was one of the hardest colors I've ever had to photograph. I use a gray/white balance card, too, so that should make it easier.

I might have other questions
...thinking...

Oh! The lace--is there a term for that style of lace? It's got really big daisy type flowers. I've never had anything like this. Pretty great, I think, and I don't like lace very much.

more questions to follow after coffee and dog walks...
 
What a stunning outfit! And it looks in marvelous shape. I agree with very late 30s--or could it be into the early 40s? I see a lot of 30s in the cut of the dress skirt, but I have a couple of early 40's dresses that look similar but for the skirt.... The jacket looks to me like it could be either or, but I don't know enough about these eras to guess for sure, and if it is a "cusper," then it makes sense to me.
 
Thanks, Ladies! It's a wearable size, too.

This is the condition it's in: there are a few small breaks in the lace, but they don't render it any less sturdy as the larger, less delicate figural part of the lace is really strong and intact. I tried to get a sense of how strong the lace is (with some gentle tugging) and it seems quite solid. There are a few tiny picks in the skirt and a couple of breaks in the top stitching on the back of the jacket pleats. What kind of condition is that? I would say GOOD to VERY GOOD, but maybe just GOOD. Surely, it's wearable and is not a study piece.

I'd try it on if that bias cut had any positive figure enhancing properties for me, but it won't. Especially not after my winter long Delta Burke project!
 
If you are handy at all with needle and thread, lace breaks are fairly easy to fix, as long as all the original material remains (holes, where the lace is actually missing) are more difficult, but repairing breaks isn't hard. If I had the dress, I would repair the lace and the breaks in the stitching in the jacket, and rate it as excellent if they came out well, with full disclosure of the repairs to the lace. (I personally wouldn't consider fixing topstitiching a structural "repair" IF I were able to match the thread and stitiching. If not, I would disclose.)

Even without doing the stitchwork, it sounds to me you could easily rate it very good, since with repairs it has nothing to detract from appearance. Unless there are many, many breaks and/or they are large.

JMHO, of course!
 
Anne, I agree with you.

I have done successful repairs on lace before, too. They are barely noticeable. I don't know. Maybe I'll just do these.

It almost takes as long to get good close-ups of things as it would have to just do the repair. Fortunately, none of the issues are on that figural/floral work.

Here's one:
<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/09.jpg>

There are 5 total and this one is the worst.
 
What do you think?
Acceptable repair?

Before:
<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/09.jpg>

After:
<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/2_54/10.jpg>

I think it looks pretty good. This hole was fairly big. The repair is strong, if not totally perfect. I need a magnifier.
 
Very acceptable repair.

After seeing the photos properly (and hearing your location of the zipper) I agree that the dress is on correctly and with the dating of very late '30s to early '40s.

Nicole
 
I'm glad it's okay. I was beginning to think that there was an 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' policy here.

I realize, I could have done better, but man. Four holes and my eyes were sorta going bazonkers! I hate sewing. I wish I could get over that and embrace the craft, but I feel like I have seal hands (i.e. flippers) when I'm sewing. It takes all I can do to just sit still and concentrate on seeing what I'm doing.

The rest of the repairs are as good if not better because the holes were smaller.

Thanks, y'all!
 
I think you have made it even more wearable. If the buyer wants to have it thoroughly restored, they still can because you didn't do anything damaging to it. They would probably be able to take the stitching out, but for most people, they would be happy they could wear it as-is.
 
I actually posted yesterday that I thought it looked great and that from a "normal" distance, I'm sure nobody would ever notice the repair.... But my computer locked up just as I hit "send," and I didn't know whether or not it went through. It must have gotten lost in cyberspace.... I think you will be able to sell it for much more with the repairs done. It's a great outfit!
 
I am glad you think so, Anne. It really was worth the effort as it does look so much nicer with the repairs. I'm all thumbs and a little ADHD so things like this are sometimes daunting.

You know, I don't think I swore at the needle and thread nearly as much as I usually do, so maybe I just had some good sewing mojo yesterday. I'm glad you convinced me to do this.
Thanks!
Holly
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top