Question / help re: 1920s dress

[KM75007]

Hello! I would really appreciate feedback re: a dress I just acquired that I was told is from the 1920s. It appears similar in construction to other dresses I have from this period, and the sleeves (particularly near the wrist) are very narrow. However, the lace and chiffon seem particularly strong (compared to other similar period lace or chiffon dresses I have, which are in varying states of general fragility). There are no holes, tears, weak spots, etc. on this dress.

From the attached pictures, (1) Does this appear to be true 1920s, and (2) Do you think the the buckle (and belt) is original? I can't tell what it's made out of -- it feels like metal and bends easily. The belt is really badly sewn on. There is no patina or rust on the buckle's rhinestones (and no missing rhinestones), though there are a few moth chews on the velvet. Any insight would be appreciated! Thank you so much!

 

[MagsRags]

The basic construction details look right, but the dress looks short to me, and that velvet sash looks jarring. I wonder if someone altered the dress at the dropped waist and added the sash and buckle?

I am not particularly experienced with 20s fashion, so I'll be interested to hear what our resident experts have to say.

 

[KM75007]

Thank you! It does look short in the photograph, but it's about 41" from neck to hem. I'm 5'1" (...so I suppose this isn't saying much), but when I hold it up to myself, it hits about mid-calf. I totally agree with you about the sash, which is why I wondered if it was original to the dress.

 

[pastperfect2]

It certainly appears to be 20s dress. I don't have a problem with that being the original belt, or at least, being a period addition.

Hollis

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

Without having it to inspect in person, it is fairly difficult to evaluate this particular dress. Seeing and touching the lace in hand would help to determine if it is antique lace, but the photos don't give enough clues. It does have a sort of home dressmaker made or even an altered look to it, and I agree the velvet sash may hve been added at a later date. The buckle would have to be seen in extreme close up, front and back to determine its age, and even then it may be hard from a photo. If it is fairly thick and is easily bent, it could be a lead based metal so I advise not handling it without gloves or washing your hands afterwards. I do think it is attractive and the sleeves are lovely.

 

[KM75007]

Thank you, everyone! In case they may be of any use, I am attaching a few close ups of the lace and buckle (though I do understand that without having the dress in hand, it may be difficult to really evaluate). The buckle IS rather easily bent -- and it being a lead-based metal would never have occurred to me, so thank you for the warning (!). I think it is only decorative; it does not actually open or close, so without removing it from the dress entirely, I cannot photograph the back any better than I was able to in the last photograph.

(Thank you again -- I am so fascinated by these things!)

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

Thank you for the photos, that helps a lot. The lace appears to be antique, silk, and a cross between a Chantilly or re-embroidered lace and an Italian lace (I collect lace but am not a lace expert). In the close ups the dress is looking more and more like 1920s. The buckle is a bit more in the Edwardian style than it is early 1920's or Art Deco, but it could be original to the dress.

I will wait to see what others may think.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Oh, and don't think that because the lace is still strong, it is a sign it may not be antique. I have some 1800's Victorian gowns with lace that is still strong, tight and supple with no signs of age at all. The hand made laces seem to hold up better, depending on how they were stored.

 

[KM75007]

Thank you again for the feedback; I'm glad the close ups helped a bit. I think I made the assumption that it might not be antique based on another lace dress I have (which is so delicate that it tears if you so much as look at it). I just doubted this dress's age because it has none of that brittle fragility (not to mention the lack of pinholes, underarm issues, etc.) -- it made me wonder. It's good to know that this is not always the case!