Opinions about the Date/Age of this Dress ...

[Linda394]

Hello ... I would greatly appreciate any opinions on the approximate date/age of this dress.

From the style of the neckline and the sleeves, and the way the waistband is gathered/pleated, I am wondering if it could be c. 1860s.

I am just a novice who loves vintage fashion, and I'm trying to learn more and more.

Many thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Jonathan]

It's definitely mid century - 1860s

 

[Linda394]

It's definitely mid century - 1860s

Thank you very much, Jonathan!

 

[furwise]

My goodness. I love looking at clothing that old. Thanks for sharing.

 

[themerchantsofvintage]

Now there's a definitive answer!

Thanks for posting, Linda - fascinating.

 

[The Vintage Merchant]

Welcome to our forums, Linda! I hope we can see more of your treasures when you have time to share!

 

[Linda394]

It's definitely mid century - 1860s

Jonathan, if you happen to see this again today -- in general, would a dress with that neckline/sleeves, with that kind of gathered/pleated waist, likely be 1860s? Or is that too general an assumption on my part?

 

[Linda394]

Welcome to our forums, Linda! I hope we can see more of your treasures when you have time to share!

Thank you, Mary! I'm looking forward to learning, and to seeing all the photographs and reading the forums. I usually don't have a way to post photographs, but I guess it's something I should look into being able to do, because I'd love to share some others!

 

[Linda394]

Now there's a definitive answer!

Thanks for posting, Linda - fascinating.

Thanks, Deborah!

 

[Linda394]

My goodness. I love looking at clothing that old. Thanks for sharing.[/quote

I'm so glad you liked it! I love it, too!

 

[Jonathan]

There isn't a huge shift in the style of little girl's dresses in the middle of the 19th century, but the tightly gauged pleating of the skirt at the waist, wide waistband, gathered bodice front, boat neckline and brass hooks are all typical features of the late 1850s - 1860s.

 

[Linda394]

I just wanted to follow up about the dress. I was hoping that I would be the lucky purchaser (I was bidding on it) but sadly, I was outbid. I even bid significantly higher than I had planned to, because I was so excited to know that it was, indeed, an 1860s piece. But I was outbid in the last seconds (just about the last second, actually) by almost $20.00, so obviously someone really wanted it.

I particularly loved that dress not just because of the age, but also because it was a print, which made it even more unusual to me. But unfortunately it will not reside with me.

So I wanted to share this one. Based on the very valuable information from Jonathan, I decided to take a chance on it. I'm hoping that it, too, is
c. 1860s. It was significantly less expensive than the print one -- still a splurge for me, but not to the extent that the other one would have been. If it turns out that it's not c. 1860s (which I'm hoping you can advise me about), I will love it anyway! I fall in love with vintage pieces very easily.

Thank you very much!