Sheer dressing gown/robe dating?

[plousia]

What would this be called, a dressing gown? Robe? other...?

Fabric seems to be silk chiffon.

Handmade.

No closures other than a waist tie (with belt loops). Two front patch pockets.

Perfect condition.

Totally lost on date, other than I would *think* 1940s or 50s? but no idea, that's why I'm asking the experts

 

[denisebrain]

To me the drape and close-up hints at crinkled cotton gauze https://vintagefashionguild.org/fabric-resource/crinkled-gauze (This is called cheesecloth in the UK and Australia, not sure where else.) I associate this fabric primarily with the 70s, but the style is pretty hard to place—by me anyway—otherwise.

 

[plousia]

To me the drape and close-up hints at crinkled cotton gauze https://vintagefashionguild.org/fabric-resource/crinkled-gauze (This is called cheesecloth in the UK and Australia, not sure where else.) I associate this fabric primarily with the 70s, but the style is pretty hard to place—by me anyway—otherwise.

It's not really crinkled, it's really hard to show details in the photos due to the busy print. And it feels like silk.

 

[denisebrain]

Can you find some fabric to use for a burn test?

 

[plousia]

Can you find some fabric to use for a burn test?

I might! I will look. I am nearly 100% certain it's silk, but could be wrong.

 

[plousia]

Some construction details: there is straight machine sewing (no zigzag or serging) and quite a lot of handsewing - the entire edge all the way around the front opening and the collar/back of neck is tacked down by hand. No pinking. Have some seams I can rob a bit from to do a burn test next.

 

[plousia]

ok, burn test returns silk. Here I am wearing it, if that might help:

 

[plousia]

Better modelled photo with fronts crossed over as I suppose it's meant to be worn:

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Its lovely. I get a more modern vibe from the fabric and the fit. Of course to me anything after 1980s is modern!

 

[plousia]

Its lovely. I get a more modern vibe from the fabric and the fit. Of course to me anything after 1980s is modern!

It's very puzzling. The construction details seem older. It's in basically perfect condition, though. And I don't tend to think of silk chiffon dressing robes as being a modern thing people wear. Maybe some people do? I'm going to browse the Commercial Pattern Archive and see if it brings up any matches.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

It's very puzzling. The construction details seem older. It's in basically perfect condition, though. And I don't tend to think of silk chiffon dressing robes as being a modern thing people wear. Maybe some people do? I'm going to browse the Commercial Pattern Archive and see if it brings up any matches.

Oh my, yes! Many women (like me!) still wear silk robes for lounging about the home. They are still sold in upscale shops and online. If yours is well detailed and constructed with old world details, that could mean it was made by a high end maker, such as La Perla or similar. Some of their silk lounging robes can fetch $1000 or more. And their details and sewing construction are the best. Not saying that is your robe's brand, but it does look as if it could be a high end maker.

 

[plousia]

Oh, it's definitely homemade; by older construction, I meant the unfinished seams, no zigzag or serging, and the hand stitching around the edges.

 

[retro ruth]

I agree that the simplicity of the style suggests later. Hard to date something like this precisely..

 

[retro ruth]

I meant the unfinished seams, no zigzag or serging,

Are they unfinished (showing raw edges), or are they French seams? French seams (raw edges enclosed in straight stitch channel) would be normal for sheer garments and lingerie.

 

[plousia]

Raw edges. Not even pinking.

The styles I saw in the Pattern Archive that were most similar were all from the 50s. This would fit with the construction, other than no pinking. Does this seem totally incongruous to anyone? I am going to see later if I can get a thread sample for a burn test.

 

[plousia]

Well the thread is synthetic, so I guess that rules out the 50s, though it could have been made using a 50s pattern I suppose. Back to the totally clueless drawing board.

Also, I was wrong, there is some zigzag stitching on it.

 

[plousia]

Bumping this thread to ask if anyone might want this dressing gown. I can't figure out a decade and agree with some comments that the fabric looks modern. It's beautiful though and deserves to go to a good home, and it's not something I'll use. If anyone wants it let me know, I'll send it to you for what I paid for it ($12 CAD I think) + shipping. Otherwise it will go to the thrift store.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree that it's a fairly modern, home sewn dressing gown. The construction (particularly the top-stitched belt loops) is consistent with this.

In my experience, there's only one type of vintage dressing gown that's made of silk and that is the glamour sort: trousseaus, boudoir wear etc. They're easy to pick because they're usually silk satin or silk charmeuse or silk chiffon. This, as Maggie mentioned, appears to have a crinkled, georgette texture. I think someone made it for themselves or a loved one because they enjoyed wearing silk and perhaps like Barbara and I, love wearing dressing gowns.

I worked for a fashion designer in the late '80s and we had dresses in this print and colourway, albeit synthetic not silk. There was a '30s floral revival at the time. That, with the oversized look on you does suggest either it was made for someone much taller, a man or it was the '80s when oversized, and shapeless was a thing.

Nicole