Helping Identifying Dress

M

Mirroratthornfield

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IMG_0062.JPG IMG_0063.JPG IMG_0064.JPG IMG_0065.JPG IMG_0067.JPG IMG_0068.JPG IMG_0069.JPG IMG_0070.JPG IMG_0072.JPG IMG_0073.JPG Hi all!
I'm hoping someone can help me indentify this dress. I recently acquired it and I am stumped as to what era it may be from. The gentleman I purchased it from said that it was his mother's dress and they lived in Switzerland. He said they lived there up until the 60s. The material feels like silk. The cut reminds me of the 1920s/1930s, but I'm not entirely sure. It slips over the head and there is a zipper at the side, which is throwing me off. It is a metal RiRi zipper, but it appears more modern to me and maybe added later? Also including some photos to show the construction of the dress. There is a lot of handstitching. It is in excellent condition and the print is very cool! I'd love to hear your thoughts as to what time period it may be from. Thank you!
 
My first impression is made in the 1980s from a 1960's sewing pattern. Largely because of the colours and scale of the print - the 'oversize' flowers was very popular in 80s fabrics. The drop waist and V- neck/back are features that both appear in the 1920s/1960s and 1980s when each era had a revival of the previous one's fashions, but the buttons are a 60's type dress feature and the zip is at least that 'new'.
The dress is clearly hand made at home so the above theory would fit with this being someone's personal choice of mix of fabric/design/style.
Just a note that I have had some lovely 80's silk dresses too, so I wouldn't take the quality fabric as being a sign it had to be earlier. I also find most family members are mistaken about the age of their own items - because they see the style they remember from one decade and associate it with then, whether or not it is the original garment or merely one that resembles it.
 
A measurement of the shoulder to waist would help identify that, but I say dropped because the waist of the mannequin would appear to be around the upper button.
 
I agree with Melanie - that fabric is just SO 80s I can't get beyond that. Interesting mix of handwork and machine sewing. The maker was obviously trained well in sewing and probably sewed her whole life, so I wouldn't be surprised is she kept zippers and buttons etc. from older garments for reuse. I know my mother and grandmother did. Coming from a long line of Scots on that side of the family, why buy new when what you have is perfectly fine!
 
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