wedding dress mystery

[Melanie Campbell]

This dress almost slipped by me at the SA as it was hiding on a rack of modern sample wedding dresses they get all the time. Dating it is perplexing me as it's simple styling is not giving up much information. What think you Bridal experts. It has a metal zipper.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

Can you tell us anything about the fabric or construction? On the available evidence I suspect it's late '70s to early '80s.

It looks very short at the front - mid calf it seems, which is odd for a train.

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

With the size 8 I would assume 1980s.

 

[Melanie Campbell]

yes, it is short in the front, with a train, I thought it was odd too. Construction wise it seems an inexpensive dress, french seems with overlock. Off the rack since it is sized. it was stuffed with tissue, so had been worn and cleaned. My init1al thought was 1980s too, it just "seems" a bit older, and I cant imagine anybody weraring a tea length dress in the 80s.

 

[Pinkcoke]

Tea length dresses from the 80s are often part of the 1950s revival style, but I suspect this is either not as short as it looks (it seems to have a dropped waist in front) or it was altered for someone shorter. What is the shoulder to front hem length?

Another thought I had - perhaps her bridesmaids held the train up, rather than it trailing, giving the impression of tea length all around.

 

[Melanie Campbell]

interesting thoughts. It does have a button loop on the skirt for the train, but the button is missing. I'm trying to figure out where the button would go.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

The "button loop" goes over your finger, so you can lift the skirt as you dance. It won't necessarily have a button to attach to, but if it does, it should be on the waist area.

 

[Better Dresses Vintage]

Looks very 80s to me, although not in the "huge, over-the-top, shoulder padded" sort of way.

 

[Better Dresses Vintage]

Looks very 80s to me, although not in the "huge, over-the-top, shoulder padded" sort of way.