How do you wear this dress?

[Vintagiality]

Hi all,

I believe this dress is from the 80s (please correct me if I am wrong). I am wondering how you wear it? Do you put a shirt underneath? Or a blouse? It appears way too open to be worn on its own. I was told it is called apron style. Is this true?

Thank you
Victoria

 

[Pinkcoke]

It's a style from the 70's usually worn over a long sleeved cotton or chiffon top, with bell sleeves or even ruffles at cuffs and a high victorian neck. I would call it a pinafore style rather than apron. Your dress is a little unusual for me as I would consider that an evening jaquard fabric when typically these dresses were for daywear. For that reason I suspect it might have been altered from a 60's evening dress, or it could have just been the maker's own choice.

 

[Vintagiality]

Thank you, Melanie. Very helpful! What signs should I look for of it being altered?

 

[Pinkcoke]

A slightly different colour thread used between different seams (the front & back center seams should be original), different types of finishing, such as hand tacking vs machine, pinked edges vs hand bound, fabric pieces you wouldn't have needed to put there unless they are left over from the previous design...

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Hi Victoria, that's a great and unusual pinafore dress you have there. Like Melanie said- best worn with a blouse underneath, and I would also date it as 1970's.
And your timing for showing us this piece is perfect for St Patricks Day too!!