How do you date vintage clothing with NO labels?

[Elizabeth Valentino]

I'm interested in learning to date women's vintage clothing with labels, using this site, and dating clothing with NO labels as well. Am I to assume something is handmade if there's no label? Probably not, so I'd also like to learn how to tell if a garment is handmade. I am also looking for a resource that shows the styles and their names i.e. shiftdress, or shirtwaist dress, etc. such a pictoral guide. Lastly, I am searching for a guide describing dressmakers terms i.e. bodice, peplum, empire waist etc., hopefully pictoral as well. As you can tell, I have much to learn & it seems this is the best place to do so! I have a ton of vintage items I'm looking to catalog.

thank you so much,
e. valentino

 

[BijouVintage]

Here is a good starting point: http://vintagefashionguild.org/tips-tricks/quick-tips-for-dating-vintage/​

welcome to our little world​

 

[joules]

Welcome, Elizabeth.

Your questions make me think of that old joke, that goes:
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice, practice, practice.

It's the same with this kind of learning.
The VFG site is a very good resource, for starters, so you've come to the right place to explore the topic.