help with vintage dress lots of pictures

[Melonie]

Hello, hoping for help with this dress. It actually came in a trunk with several other dresses, a few kimonos etc. I have several questions: possible timeline... care instructions as far as washing... can I iron the liner. The fabric certainly feels man made. I did do a cold water soak and then dried on a blanket outside when I got it as everything in the trunk had "that smell". It did come out odor free and I did not see any damage from the cold water, but not sure if washing it in warm water with detergent is an option. Thank you for any help you can give me!! If it helps at all on of the other dresses has a tag from Hawaii...

 

[northstarvintage]

A trunk of old dresses is my idea of heaven!

It looks like a 50s bridesmaid's dress. I just went down a rabbit hole looking at photos of 50s bridal parties and found lots of similar dresses, like in this photo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vintage_women/6220972990/in/pool-unidentifiedpeople/

It's so pretty - love the color.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I agree with Susan, it looks 50s to me as well. Nice find!

 

[MagsRags]

The original look probably included a little bolero to cover the shoulders for the church ceremony. Very cute. I would have been afraid to wash it given the different types of fabric - I have had garments where the lining shrank but the dress didn't and vice versa. Be cautious with hot water for that reason.

 

[denisebrain]

The lining is taffeta, most likely acetate taffeta. The fabric is best dry cleaned—that's what I would suggest doing with the dress. If you wash it in warm water, the lining will likely lose its crispness and is likely to develop fine wrinkles all over (acetate is very heat sensitive). Also, as Maggie said, the different fabrics can react differently to a water wash.

The piped waist makes me think late 50s to early 60s.