Help with questions about dress lace and era

[Kapet]

Hello all, I have attached photos of another dress I have from mother/grandmother. I am not sure what color the lace is? When I look at it straight on it looks black however in different light or angle, it looks purple. The underarm areas are discolored and have a reddish tinge.

Has anyone ever seen a dress made with this lace and what is the original color is? Was it black and faded over time or is it considered something else? There is no designer label so I don't know who made it or when it might have been made so any information you an offer would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for so many photos but I want to show as much as I can for you to identify it.
Thank you,
Karen

 

[cactusandcattails]

I think that discoloration is some kind of chemical reaction to heat. I have seen it quite a bit in old black lace

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Hi Karen,

What an interesting dress! I think you have a cocktail or evening dress from the late '50s to early '60s. It looks like a nylon lace, but dye is quite stable on nylon and I've never seen a colour change like this so I wonder if it's a rayon lace that has been affected, as Brenda says, it could be a chemical reaction to heat. It could also be as a result of a bad amateur dye but the other photos don't suggest dyeing, and black is a difficult colour to dye as evenly as this (despite the discoloured spots).

Incidentally, black dyes are either red or green based, and over time you can often see this - Victorian and Edwardian items often soften to a greeny charcoal colour, and '50s blacks sometimes go to a reddy browny black if that makes sense.

Another thing is that I think your dress may have been shortened and someone has added a flounce with a white lining underneath. Although your dress was probably made either by a skilled home seamstress or a dressmaker (hence no label), I think the frill is an update. Is the lace in the frill the same kind of lace? If so, they may have removed a floor length skirt and gathered it up to make the frill.

 

[Kapet]

Hello Nicole, the lace appears to be the same on both sections but you would be able to confirm that. I have attached photos of each for comparison. I suppose my next question is, is it possible to fix just the discolored areas? And is it worth trying to sell this one or would it be considered too damaged?

PS - I am so glad I found this site because I had no idea that was called a flounce. Thanks!