Need help with dating and saving dress. 1930s?? Thanks!

Tabbyannabel

Tabbyannabel

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Got this dress today and even though it is in awful condition I thought it was too beautiful to abandon. Is it from the 1930s? Velvet material with tiny pearls across bodice and cuffs, buttons down the back (too small for my mannequin), the back hem is longer than the front hem like a train. There are shoulder pads (photographed). Also right at the back hem at the longest part is a round weight sewn in (photographed). What was that for and is that a common practice?

Also, is there any help for the water staining? 0001EC.jpeg0001aR.jpeg0001LV.jpeg0001VP.jpeg0001vy.jpeg

Thanks for your help!
 
What a shame about those stains. Are they only at the very bottom around the train and lower hemline, if they are only there, I would say if a dry cleaning cannot get them out that it might well be worth having it cut and hemmed to an ankle length if possible. It looks like a rayon velvet.

It does look like a 30s wedding gown to me.
 
The water staining is just at the hem area so I guess worst case scenario I could hem it up. There are a few tears in the material mostly at the seems and a couple of the buttons are missing. But couldn't just pass it by! Was the weight in the hem commonplace?
 
I would date as late '30s to early '40s and agree that rehemming is a good idea. I doubt you'll get the stains out. Someone probably hung it somewhere and some of it trailed on the ground, where there was water at some point. A pity. It's a beautiful dress.

The "slip" looks like an Edwardian nightgown, perhaps worn with the dress as the "something old".
 
I thought it looked Edwardian! But you just never know. Maybe they were both family pieces that somehow got saved together.
 
Weights in hems were to hold the drape in place especially in long gowns with trains. I have seen them in early custom made gowns.
Marian
 
If it were mine, I would secure any loose beads and repair the seams, then take it to a good cleaners to see what they can do before I committed the irrevocable action of cutting and hemming. I know the cleaning won't be cheap, as they will charge at least full length gown prices, but it's a pretty dress and worth a try.

Hollis
 
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