please help with dating (40's?) dress

[kadavv]

Hello! what do you think about this dress? Do you think it could be from the 1940s? It looks like someone might have shortened it. The fabric appears to be rayon. It has a side metal zipper at the waist. Thank you in advance for all your suggestions.

 

[denisebrain]

Might it have been homemade? I see a lot of hand stitching. Sometimes that skews the date, such as a person making a style with a pattern she'd had for years. I have seen dresses with similar details and cut dating from the 50s and 60s although the style hearkens back to the 40s.

I love the sleeves, that little bit of lace, the covered buttons...nice find!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

That a sweet dress. I think it may be the original length. I say this because it appears to be what we used to call a "short waisted" dress. Usually made for heavy set or chunky woman or short women (or both).

 

[vivavintageclothing]

Agreed, it does look similar to a vintage "half-size" dress. They were designed to fit better for a petite/short-waisted person with a larger build. Of course, it could have been made from a half-size pattern, or custom made to fit someone in that size range.

 

[kadavv]

Might it have been homemade? I see a lot of hand stitching. Sometimes that skews the date, such as a person making a style with a pattern she'd had for years. I have seen dresses with similar details and cut dating from the 50s and 60s although the style hearkens back to the 40s.

I love the sleeves, that little bit of lace, the covered buttons...nice find!

Yes, I think it was homemade. I also noticed the interesting sleeves Thank you for your insights! < 3

 

[amandainvermont]

I think it was dyed. Maybe someone needed a black dress?