That 'posh' utility label again? Any suggestions for a date?

emmapeelpants

emmapeelpants

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That \'posh\' utility label again? Any suggestions for a date?

This dress is proof that it pays to know your stuff, the shop had it tagged as '1970s' (judging by the price on a damaged '50s Frank Usher, I got a good deal too) but I spotted its potential a mile off. I was amazed it had all the original buttons down the back! It has that unusual label which seems to be the subject of some discussion at the moment. I did wonder if it was a pre-Utility symbol of 'British made' or something. Someone else suggested it meant 'dry clean only'.

Anyhoo, I'm guessing that this is a cusper? But eBayUK categories being such as they are, I need to choose '30s or '40s! What do we think?
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ooh, that IS nice!

hmm. I think I'd put it in 30s if it were me and just say late 30s early 40s.

Ebay UK is a pain as their categories don't work out fashion wise as well as the .com ones, wish they would re-jig them a bit.

That label annoys me hugely as I want to know! Rosemary Harden's response at Bath was

"I have come across this label time and again and have never been able to run it's meaning to ground. Indeed I was speaking recently to someone on the Antiques Roadshow who had the same problem and had done a lot of research and still couldn't find the origins of the label.

There is one book by Christopher Sladen on Utility clothing, which it might be worthwhile getting hold of. Alternatively, the Geffrye Museum in London held an exhibition on Utility (principally furniture) in 1974. It's a long shot, but there may be something in their research which sheds light on the problem."

Geffrye Museum's archive is online this November so I meant to try then.
 
It strikes me as being so very peculiar that no one seems to know what it means, like some strange cult or something? I wish my grandmother were still alive, just in case she remembered - but then I guess the average girl on the street wouldn't care what a label meant.

Thanks, I think you're right that 30s is more appropriate - I was thinking it must be around '38-'41ish, pre Utility. Certainly, those frills would have been frowned upon ;)

Liz
 
l've never come across that labele iether, and l have researched utility labels before having suitcases of the stuff....!!

could it be a coincidence of a label, similar? or post war, with rationing on into 50's could this have been a 'special' notice label. although l have to say the fabric and dye's used don't appear to be limited in any way?
 
Originally posted by sarasattic
could it be a coincidence of a label, similar? or post war, with rationing on into 50's could this have been a 'special' notice label. although l have to say the fabric and dye's used don't appear to be limited in any way?
Click to expand...

Well this dress is definitely not post-war and doesn't seem to have any hint of rationing about it (frills and fabric covered buttons would have been a no-no, no?) and I've got a '50s dress with a proper utility label so I guess that was used through until rationing ended in....'52 was it??

Bizarre!! Like I said above, I wondered if it was a sign of 'British designed' or made, a bit like the NRA labels in the US?

Liz
 
Funny you should post your dress Liz as I just photographed my one today by Howard's in the exactly the same size, 14B!
I was pondering about the date of mine too (it's for stiffly padded shoulder pads) which makes me think it's a late 40's one but don't think mine has that weird utility label though. Then again, I didn't think to check. The one on my velvet blouse was cut out so I'll check to see if this striped dress has one that has been cut out as well.

My Howard's striped dress..
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/example/striped19401.jpg">
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/example/striped19402.jpg">

The late 30's/pre 1941 blouse with the posh utility label half cut out..
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/example/velvetblouse1.jpg">
Label remnants:
<img src="http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/example/velvetblouse2.jpg">

Lei
 
How funny!!! Do we know who Howard is?? That's a <B>scrummy</b> dress, that actually has a more early 40s feel to me - feels like too much 'unnecessary' fabric during rationing as well?

Liz
 
This what was confusing me about the dress, the bodice length, full skirt and stiff padded shoulder pads, reminded me of late 40's fashions but there was still rationing on then so all the frills and full skirt would have been a no-no.
I wonder if it was made RIGHT BEFORE rationing started, like literally right before June 1941 and was forshadowing the changes in fashions before the war rationing put a halt to everything?

I've googled Howard, even "Howard's Size 14B" but nothing comes up.

Lei
 
You may well be right, in which case it would be a VERY rare creature - a really extravagant Forties dress made during the war in the UK and presumably not adjusted and worn to death? ;)

I always think it's a miracle we find <I>anything</i> from this era!

Liz
 
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