Mize Modes Dress - who made it? how old is it?

Cynthia R.

Cynthia R.

Registered Guest
30s dress il_fullxfull.jpg


I bought this dress thinking it was from the 1930's because of the drop waist and sleeve style but now I am not so sure. My research has come up with almost nothing about Mize Modes clothing other than an ad posted in Galveston, TX. newspaper with the date of 1946. The garment label is embroidered, the zipper is metal on the side and it also has snaps. The more I investigate, the more curious I am about who made this garment and when. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks to the input from Ikranieri I am getting closer to dating this dress. Below is an excerpt of an article written about the Mize Factory in old Nacogdoches, Tx.

The Old Mize Factory was home to the Mize Manufacturing Company from 1938 to about 1992. The company was founded by Byron H. and W. Allan Mize, originally from Rose Pine, Louisiana. The Mize bothers moved to Nacogdoches in January 1925, after running general merchandise stores in both Huntsville and Crockett. After relocating to Nacogdoches, the brothers opened a variety store at the northwest corner of Main and Church, just west of Opera House. Their variety store did well, and as Lucy McBee reported in the Daily Sentinel, gave birth to a women's apparel factory... here is the link for source of information and continued reading: http://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/2046.asp
 
mize modes garment label.jpg

thank you Linn for offering to help date my dress...here is the label - haven't taken photo of the zipper and snaps (yet).
 
Thanks! I'd still like to see the zipper (and snaps) and anything else that would help date the dress, but my initial reaction which was confirmed by seeing the label is very late 1940's, early 1950's. Let's see what others think when you provide the additional pictures.
 
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The dress looks like a very large size. The waist appears dropped, because the top is not filled out with an ample bosom. I, too, think it is a late 1940's or early 1950's. I seem to remember that polka dots were popular then. Is the fabric a sheer rayon?
Marian
 
Marion,
I agree with you about polka dots being popular in the late 1940's early 1950's - particularly navy with white. I have an example in my closet!
Linn
 
I agree - very late 40s into 50s. The large size is making it a bit hard to tell, but that fabric, the navy and white polka dots, the metal side zipper and the length of the skirt are all leading me that way. There seem to be small shoulder pads?
 
It is large (for that what I now know is probably a mid-century dress). It's the equivalent of today's size 14 so I can wear it without alterations. I took some photographs of the inside of the garment and will post soon. Can't remember about shoulder pads being present or not but I discovered, when photographing, that the hem has rayon hem tape, the seams are not finished and were pinked when cut, and I was wrong about the zip. It is actually a center zip. I am very appreciative of your input and comments. Its fun to know more about this dress and I still like it even if its newer than I first had hoped!
 
Here are a few detail photographs of this Mize Modes dress showing construction, pinked seams and front zipper. Thanks again for your opinions.

mize mode dress detail 8.jpg mize mode dress detail 9.jpg mize mode dress detail 4a.jpg mize mode dress detail 7a.jpg mize mode dress detail 1.jpg mize mode dress detail 5.jpg
 
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