UPDATED - Questions - 20s wedding gown and accesories

amandainvermont

amandainvermont

VFG Member
This is a pretty sleeveless satin gown from the 20's. I am waiting for the daughter to call me back with the date of the wedding. The long satin drapey thing with the design on the end is a train. In the hanging picture it is twice as long. It's double satin and heavy and there's no place to attach it on the dress. I am thinking perhaps it was held by some kind of clip - rope affair in the across her collar bone. I'm hoping the daughter will be able to find the picture that shows the outfit.

Perhaps I will also find out if the little decorated flower band was worn by the bride - maybe with a veil that has deteriorated? It was stored with the dress. And curious - the pink cloche-hat thing was stored with the dress too. At first it looks more like a baby's bonnet, but it is too big.

:BAGUSE: Sorry for the sideways photo!

Once again - any ideas/opinions appreciated. I'll be editing the pictures but lately my camera is giving me less than crisp focus sometimes - Amanda
twent4.jpg
train2.jpg
train.jpg
twenthat.jpg
other.jpg

other5.jpg
 
The bonnet is a sleeping bonnet for a lady, and I've seen the other thing called a bandeau or head band. As I understood it, they were used more for keeping the hair back, etc. when lounging and stuff, as opposed to actually being worn out. Not a bridal head piece in other words. As for the train thing.. I don't know. I've only ever seen them where they were already attached or else had obvious attachments, so it is odd there isn't anything unless it was removed.
 
Hi Amanda,

Do you see anyplace on the back of the shoulders where there might have been snaps or perhaps eyes where hooks from the train might have attached? That's what I would expect to find. It does look like a period train and if the decoration is just at one end then I would say it's definite.
 
The two hats were probably part of her trousseau. I had a complete set of wedding night lingerie a couple of years ago that included a bandeaux just like yours. And I agree with Candy. The train was probably attached at the back of the shoulders so it looked like a watteau.
 
Hmm - nope no sign of any way that train could connect anywhere on the dress. The satin of the dress is quite light and delicate. The train is heavier weight. I am really hoping the woman will have a photo. She said it was definitely a train because she remembered it as such in the photo.

This woman was nice, but ditzy. Have you ever had someone show you their photo album and THEY hold the album and point out each picture? That is what she was doing with her clothes ... and I totally can zone into what interests me. Every once in a while I had to point out major holes or tears and she would say .."Well yes, that's because it's vintage." Sigh.

I think you are right about it all being part of her mother's trousseau. There's a blue silk and lace "robe" that has yellowing in creases. It's a very delicate silk and I was going to take it to the dry cleaners ... but even that makes me nervous. Any suggestions?
 
I have also seen these trains attached at the shoulder or back neckline, so the photo should be helpful. It may have been sewn on and then removed for the reception or later wear.

Hollis
 
Or, if its a different fabric, it may belong to a different wedding gown. I sold a gorgeous 1910 wedding gown last year that had this same type of train attached at the shoulders. Does anything about the train match it to the dress? Is the lace the same?
 
could it be the other part was adapted from another dress if it doesn't match in fabric. Like something old/something new. bride's wedding gown/older sisters train from the 19teens?
 
Or if they are anything like my husband's family, one aunt ended up storing everyone's wedding gowns, etc, in her basement. She is pretty clear on what gown was whose but some of the extra pieces may have gotten mixed together and since a few of the nieces got married close together time wise, it may be easy to mix up/not remember whose is whose. There would have been her sister and SIL's gowns from the 50s, and then 3 nieces from the 80s, etc. so maybe the train is from somebody else.
 
I have an early 30s bias cut gown that I purchased from the owners daughter. It had a similar 'train' (but undecorated) and it had apparently been attached to a sequinned tulle skullcap that had perished and been discarded. She was adamant that was what it was from!
 
Well, I have the photo now of the wedding day (have to call her back to get the year - duh...)

bride2.jpg


You can see it is that square cornered train, but there's no indication how it is fastened. Guess I leave that up to the buyer. What really threw me was how short the dress is ... but looking closely at the photo it IS the same dress. I think the shot i have here of my mannequin - it drops down in the back.

Meanwhile - I got the woman's wedding dress as well - classic 50's.

This one needs major cleaning.

otherbride.jpg
 
now that i think of it, i thought there was a "rule" about the length of the veil/train vs dress length....that first photo dress/train doesn't follow that rule, but it makes for a nice photograph, anyway
 
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