Hello, I love and collect vintage clothes. I am thrilled to have found this forum! Thank you for all the useful information here. A few days ago I bought an old dress from a charity shop in Norway and I hope you can give me some advice. I think it is from the 1930s due to the beautiful art deco details. However, I do not think the zipper is original to the dress. Do you think it is? It says "Made in Germany" on the back of the zipper. How do you think the dress looked originally? Hooks maybe? Or another zipper perhaps? I am considering having it altered and replace the zipper, but out of respect for its long history, I am very much in doubt. Could you please advice me? What would you do? Thank you in advance for your reply
Old dress
- Thread starter Tari84
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Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
It is not all that unusual to find 1930's dresses with zippers. although the placement of the zipper on yours seem a bit odd (to me anyway). Is the collar original to the dress? It seems newer to me, but I do not have in hand as you do.
Exactly, the placement seems odd to me too. The dress has no other zippers and needs to be pulled carefully over the head. The opening is quite narrow even when the zipper is open. As for the collar, it's hard to tell. It was hand stitched onto the dress - I had to sew parts of it back on - and the fabric is showing age. I don't know if the pattern/shape/decoration of the collar can tell us something . I am not even sure the dress is from the 30s. It is old, and charming though ;)
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I had the same reaction, Barbara. The embroidery style and technique looks out of place with the rest of the dress to me. The dress itself has enough style elements going on with the ribbed fabric and the areas of pintucking on the bodice front and cuffs for the collar to be a head scratcher for me. Like it got added decades later in an effort to shift the dress toward girly/feminine.
agree, that collar looks like a (later) addition, to me. check out the stitching along the back neckline (inside), it looks, to me, added on. if i were you? i would clip the seam that attaches the collar to the dress. but, if you're not comfortable sewing, maybe not. but, if you have a seamstress/tailor near you that you trust? you might want to take it to them to get their opinion.
the zipper may have been added, too, but the collar looks like it would be easy to snip off, if you do want to see it in a more original state.
can you show photos of the inside front of the neckline, to see how the collar (and maybe zipper) are stitched in? thanks!
the zipper may have been added, too, but the collar looks like it would be easy to snip off, if you do want to see it in a more original state.
can you show photos of the inside front of the neckline, to see how the collar (and maybe zipper) are stitched in? thanks!
Thank you all for your feedback and your interest in the dress! It is so interesting and I'm learning a lot here. I appreciate it very much that you take the time to answer, and it is very kind of you to share your thoughts and knowledge. My tailor actually sewed the collar back on because it was loose on one side. I have attached some photos that show the inside of the dress. Even if the collar is added later, I think it shows that the dress has been worn and loved for decades, probably passed on and worn by more than one person, and I think that is part of the magic of handling and wearing vintage clothes
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plousia
Registered Guest
I just saw today that someone is selling a similar dress, attributed to the 30s with a short front zipper and white collar. This seller seems to be quite reputable and knowledgeable, and it reminded me of your dress:
https://trunkofdresses.com/collections/all/products/vintage-1930s-front-zip-dress (not my listing)
https://trunkofdresses.com/collections/all/products/vintage-1930s-front-zip-dress (not my listing)
Well spotted! That is a beautiful dress, and yes, there are several similarities. How fun and interesting to see a similar zipper too! Thank you for showing me this