Help with this 40's suit please

T

twolittlebeauties

Registered Guest
Help with this 40\'s suit please

As soon as I saw this I thought 1940's. But I am trying to figure out early or later 40's?

I am not sure what type of fabric it is. I was thinking wool because it has that scratchy feel to it, but it also seems lightweight.

I woul also love some pricing help on this one.

thanks for any help on this!

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Thanks! I know just a little bit about vintage items, although I sure do love them. But as soon as I saw this, I had to get it! It is in perfect condition too. Just needs a steam, although I am a little afriad to do it. I always worry about ruining the fabric.
 
Great suit! Could it be a cotton/linen blend - or maybe even 100% cotton. Doesn't look like wool. I think it's late '40's and the skirt has been shortened. Is the first photo of the hem?

The reason I think it's late '40's is the style of the jacket with the scalloped hemline and the peplum effect in the back. It has a slightly "New Look" feeling to it with emphasis on the narrow waist. It's really a great.

Linn
 
A beautiful suit ~ the detail on the jacket peplum is exquisite.

I wonder if the buttons are not original to the piece - they just don't look right. There may have originally been rhinestone embellished or self-covered buttons.

It looks like the zipper is a replacement because the original zipper would have matched the color of the skirt and the stitching is not the same quality of workmanship as the rest of the suit.

As far as fabric I agree with Linn.
 
Leisa -

That label is a National Recovery Board label - not a Union one. It shows up from the mid'30's into the '60's.

http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/...section,6/cat,59/task,view/id,379/Itemid,100/

I agree the buttons may not be original. I didn't see the zipper as a replacement - just thought it was very dark green rather than the same color as the suit fabric - but I can see what you mean about the stitching, Debbie.

Love the suit!!!

Linn
 
The first photo is of the hem. I too wondered if something had happened there. I also thought maybe the buttons were replaced. I will need to look a bit closer at the buttons.

I never had thought of the zaipper being a replacement, but I can see it now that you have pointed out.

The fabric is rather scratchy. I would expect a linen to be softer, BUT maybe it has to do with its age?

Thanks everone for your imput!
 
that is a pretty suit!

i agree, the buttons look like they're replacements~ i'm actually surprised to see the buttonholes just zigzag finished rather than hand-stitched or bound...and really really surprised to see that line of stitching up the front edge of the bodice...

you might want to try a burn test ~ but it does have a linen appearance, which can have a bit of scratchiness
 
I think the skirt has been lengthened not shortened. I can make out a very small single hem allowance with what looks like a gold selvedge makers print line. That looks like 2" bias binding or a little less. I'm assuming it's the skirt hem we are looking at? There seems to be some padding in the shoulders. The fabric could be a rayon/linen blend.

It does have late Forties styling.
 
I agree with vertugarde on late '40s and rayon/linen blend. It's quite shiny, especially on the underside which suggests a non-natural fibre. Rayon was called rayon because of it's shininess although many rayons don't shine, natural fibres rarely do unless they're "polished" or a sateen weave.

I also agree that the buttons don't look original and the zip may have been replaced - and I agree with vertugarde again about the skirt being lengthened. Perhaps it had been chopped at some point and a new wearer took the skirt down as far as she could to restore the length?

N
 
My thoughts were sort of late 40s too because of the shape of the jacket.

And it's sooo pretty! Great find! I still think 40s suits are probably the chicest of them all... (love the 50s too, but 40s just has that "certain something" to me).

It might well be that the skirt was first shortened, and the extra fabric cut off, and then lengthened again. It's such a wearable style, I wouldn't wonder if it has been through a few owners who adjusted the length of the skirt according to their tastes...

The way the zip has been sewn in - honestly, it looks like when I try to sew in a zip by machine :BAGUSE: - it never quite works :powwows: . I can at certain points see two lines of sewing. It happens to me that the thread rips or I get off line and have to start again... One of the reasons why I've taken my moms advice - only sew in zips by hand (unless we're talking jeans...). There really is something to that ;) . I think it would be worth it to open that seam, take the zip out and sew it in again by hand, it'll look so much nicer.

Karin
 
Karin, I used to have a lot of trouble with zips but now I tack them in by hand first. If I get that bit right, machine stitching them is easy. Now we do several every week and it works a charm.

N
 
There is no way I am doing anything to that zipper. I would surely ruin this gorgeous 1940's suit! I will leave it up to the new owner to take care of it when I sell it. I will disclose everything you all have pointed out to me and I am sure that it will find its way to a very deserving owner!

thanks everyone for the help!
 
That's a lovely suit, especially that 2-die-4 jacket! I agree with late 40s, replacement zipper, and hem being let down, too. I think the fabric is a linen blend, but would need to feel it to know what else it's blended with! Probably rayon, but I have some dresses that are silk/linen blends, and they have some luster to the surface. Although they are more "lustrous" than "shiny."
 
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