vintage dress dating help, again...

C

coquelicot

Registered Guest
Hello everyone!

Sorry to be a bother, but would you please give your opinion on this dress? http://picasaweb.google.com/asleepinthepoppies31/RoseDress#

Sorry about the blurry ones, it was quite dark today.I'll take better ones tomorrow if necessary, but I was really curious.

It has a metal Talon side zipper and by that and the style a bit peasant-ish my guess would be 40s or 50s. The funny thing is that the skirt is quite short and has some sort of a little scalloped hemline. I think it might have been modified by a previous owner, or maybe it was made from a vintage pattern using old buttons and a metal zipper? I'm really confused.


I'm asking here because usually the thrift stores around here carry stuff imported from Germany or England and it's usually just modern stuff, with a few vintage pieces, usually not older than the 70s, so it's pretty unusual for me to find stuff with metal zippers, for example.

I don't think it has any particular value or anything, assuming it has been modified, and it's not a perfect fit either, but it would be nice to able to prance around in your thrifted dress thinking it's not only a nice number, but a nice little old number :).

I'm looking forward to your replies and if you need any particular pictures or the seams or such[I'm totally clueless with those] I'd be happy to provide them.

Thanks for your time!
 
Hi, I've watching for a response, I'm no expert but my first thought was 60's I have late 60s union made (Canadian Union I know they're late 60s becasue the label wasn't in use until "68) items have the metal zipper. It's a really cute dress! It's unlined though right? So maybe mid 60's - I'm not the expert by any stretch so hopefuly someone else will answer!
 
I'm a little confused by this one as well and hopefully someone will be along to help out. Metal side zippers were out of fashion by the 60s. The shortness of the dress could point to war time, but I'm not sure if the material and style fit in.
 
@vintagemerchant - Wow! Now that I think might solve the mystery! The dress seemed in a condition too good to be from the 40s, with no stains or holes...Also, did I mention it doesn't have any tags and looks handmade? So maybe it was made in the 60s but inspired by an older pattern, as vintageclothesline mentioned the 40s influence as well.

@ coffeegrl - I read on this site, I think, that metal zippers were used until the mid 60s, so that's not an indicator of the dress being older, but the combination of buttons in front+side zipper seemed like an older solution[I have a 40s dress that works this way, only with the buttons in the back]. And indeed, it's unlined.

Thanks everyone for your answers! Maybe someone will later come with a better solution or explanation for all the odd things going on in this dress, but I guess this uncertainty and quirky period details and time enigmas make vintage/found clothing so much fun.
 
I looked at this when you first posted and was baffled too - the fabric looks '70s to me. My best advice is to see if you can take some photos on a mannequin or a person and then we can see the shape better. It's a mystery :)

Nicole
 
Wow been a LONG time since I have been on... but I think I have an idea of what might be going on here.

I agree the fabric is not 40s. at least I have never seen one like that, but I am still a novice at this. You are right about the zipper and button placement, but the sleeves are too puffy. More like 70s and 80s pieces. Also home made makes the fact that it is a metal zipper non important because some seamstresses prefer metal zippers so he/she would have been more likely to use that over a nylon.

Now 80s did do A LOT of 20s-50s inspirations. There is also the possibility that this is a costume piece. Which is why I am posting. I have a feeling it was a repro for what ever reason, whether theatre or personal wear.

Now I could be and most likely am entirely wrong but thats just my gut. Do you have any good pictures of the stitching, how is the fabric edges finished on the inside (40s would have been cleaner than newer garments) also do you know the fabric if not can you do a burn test? looks cotton from pics but they are only pictures. If it is Poly then you KNOW its not 40s and more into the 70s + mark.

I hope that helps.
 
oh thanks everyone for the help!

The funny thing is that my mum suggested 70s as well when she saw it...[she was born in '58]. Unfortunately I had left the dress home and now I'm at my place in a different town so i can't provide any extra photos right now. And maybe it is a reproduction after all...The fabric is definately cotton by the feel, but a thicker kind. And no, I don't recall seeing the stitches finished. and the hem is shorter in the front and longer in the back from what I saw. So maybe it was someone's sewing project that didn't go quite well and ended up in the charity bag. I think I had a picture taken with the dress on, but it's on film and it might get a couple of takes to take it processed, but I really don't know how that would turn out.

Well, I guess until someone comes with a better suggestion, I'll stick with the 70s theory. Sorry for starting such a debate about sth so silly! Seeing only online listings makes things so much easier, but the real dating stuff could be a real adventure! :)
 
There is nothing particularly unusual about this dress. It is from the 70's - 80's period. The print while being sort of 'folkloric' is pretty typical of a lot of fabrics from Eastern Europe at that time when countries were under Communist rule. Dressmaking supplies were limited and expensive for the average person. Metal zips were common and I see the metal zipper (long and short) and the side zipper question coming up time and time again as if there is a definitive cut off time period when they were used. Yes, metal side zips in dresses were typical in the 1940's as were hook and eye and popper fastenings but metal zips continued to be used long afterwards.

It's easy to forget that North America and Europe had different economic conditions over the last 50 years and vintage clothing is often an social indicator.
 
Here is the photo, a bit late and useless. but I'm sharing it anyway. i had no idea that you have to be extra careful with found clothes in europe! i might post some other dresses i think are vintage but might not be. thanks again for all your helpful replies!

 
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