Possible Mollie Parnis dress

[TerryLSmith]

Recently, I picked up this dress at an estate sale for pennies. Its in wonderful shape. I however am out of my league in dating or authenticity. It has a closed ended metal COMAR zipper. It is wonderful shape with no snags on the delicate bodice sheer material. The netting under the dress (like a crinoline) is safety pinned, it seems as if it needs to be sewn back on. The taffeta material that comprises the body of the dress is a reddish hue, which could be indicative of Mollie Parnis designs, according to dress person ive been speaking to. I really would like information on which way to go - my head is spinning a bit. There are no tags. The person also told me that she was an important designer and this dress could have possible historical significance. I just was wondering a date, maybe a value (she said she wouldnt list for less than 600.00), where it could be sold, perhaps a style - i dont know, something!

 

[TerryLSmith]

CONMAR zipper

 

[MagsRags]

Welcome to the VFG forums! Lovely dress, but I don't see a photo of the label? That may help with dating, along with any union labels. My first guess would be late 50s/early 60s.

Re: authenticity and value, please review our Forum Rules. We are unable to speculate about authenticity or value - that would require in-person evaluation from an appraiser.

The taffeta material that comprises the body of the dress is a reddish hue

It looks like the level of reddish is not uniform? It's probably heat related changes - some of the fabric dyes that were used were unstable and changed over time - redder in areas where there was more body heat during wear.

 

[denisebrain]

Hi Terry,

You can compare the label in your dress to the ones in our Label Resource (also read about Parnis): https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/parnis-mollie/ Does it look like one of those?

You can see some Parnis items in a Gem search for Mollie Parnis 50s and Mollie Parnis 60s. Gem is a search for most of the vintage fashion items for sale online.

I agree with Maggie/MagsRags that the reddish hue is from heat and the taffeta fabric is likely to be acetate which is quite heat sensitive.

 

[TerryLSmith]

unfortunately, there isnt any tags. hence, my problem. yes, the taffeta is red but you cant not tell that from looking at it as a whole. supposedly, mollie parnis used to us the fabric that is on the sleeving, bodice. it is a shiny material. the dress is in overall good shape with some minor mending. also, i was told from how the material is cut on the bodice, could be indicative to pinking shear and probably was handcut. i do live in the DC/MD/Va area. Mamie Eisenhower used to wear dresses form Mollie Parnis.

 

[MagsRags]

Many dresses of that era have inner seams cut with pinking shears - it does not indicate a particular company or designer. Before the popular use of serged/overlocked seams in the mid 1960s, it was the most common way of decreasing seam fray.

 

[Vintagiality]

There are close to 1000 Mollie Parnis items on Etsy. I have had a few over the years and have never seen them at prices your contact suggests. In my experience, much like yours, they are beautiful but rather common. Maybe others have had unique pieces that they have had a different experience with.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I am curious to know what makes you think the dress is Molly Parnis? Also the lining, as has been mentioned, is likely an acetate taffeta which has partially turned red over time. That fabric was very common and hugely popular for dress and other garment linings. Its presence does not indicate any specific designer. Your "dress person" who told you that is wrong there.

It is pretty.

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

The taffeta material that comprises the body of the dress is a reddish hue, which could be indicative of Mollie Parnis designs, according to dress person ive been speaking to.

I've never heard of such a theory. I agree with the others in this thread, it is simply a fading effect of heat/storage/age on black acetate. I've had dresses with this phenomenon that weren't Mollie Parnis. So... it's actually an unfortunate condition issue for your garment.

The person also told me that she was an important designer and this dress could have possible historical significance.

While Mollie Parnis is a "known" name among vintage clothing sellers/collectors, the only way an MP garment would have "historical significance" is if it had been actually owned by Mamie Eisenhower, or another well-known person/celebrity from the past.

(she said she wouldnt list for less than 600.00)

As someone has already said, that estimate doesn't hold water. While there are MP dresses currently listed on eBay in that price range, the top SOLD price for an MP dress on eBay at this time is $99. And black dresses are a harder sell. I've had a few nice MP dresses pass through my hands over my 20 years dealing in vintage clothing... none sold for anywhere near $600, even back when the market for vintage dresses was really hot.

This isn't the exciting news you'd like to hear, I'm sure, but I'm just trying to offer you realistic info. Your "dress person" seems to be misguided.
And regardless, if there's no Mollie Parnis label, you can't call it a Mollie Parnis dress.