What is a good descriptive term for this type of trim?

Villa

Villa

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I have this lovely (1950's?) dress, and I am trying to think of a good descriptive term for this type of trim. They are solid little pill shape bobbles. Does anyone know if it had a proper name? Thanks!
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Also, what is this type of construction called? It is like an empire waist with princess seams and a fitted bodice. Is there a name for this?
 
I have a wedding dress in almost exactly the same shape, with the bow in the same place.

I wouldn't call it empire, which means that the dress flows from the underbust line, obscuring the natural waist. This has the waist is at the natural point, but has an underbust detail as well.

Don't know about the bobbles though.

Show stopping dress in that fire-engine red!
 
The trim looks like what I call "ball fringe." I agree that your dress is 1950's and I think you've described it well, although I think of an empire waist as having a waistline that actually falls from where the bow is, so maybe say something like, "fitted bodice, with princess seams and a decorative bow beneath the bustline, giving an illusion of an empire line" - or something like that. It's very pretty dress!
 
Linn, thats good! I agree, I think of an empire waist as falling from the seam just under the bust too. I was just noting the fact that the band was up there in that position. As to the fringe, it is just like a ball fringe. It just has these hard little pills, and I thought they may have a specific name and was curious. Thanks for the reply!!
 
Thank you! I wear them year-round, especially during the day when I'm outside, or driving. They look like they're vintage, but they are not. The earrings are vintage Bakelite. My other Avatar was too "wintery" with the velvet cape. It's really Spring now, here in Hawaii!
 
Gorgeous frock - I'd call that a shelf bust with under-bow and princess seams. The fringing is usually "pom pom fringing" or trim but if yours are just little balls I'd call it a fancy ball trim or something like that.

In any case, I think this dress is going to sell itself, it's beautiful!
 
I've always thought of a shelf bust that is where the bodice is supported just under the bust, thereby creating a kind of "shelf" for the boobs to be propped up on. Not terribly technical, but you get the idea - I love Liz's dress, it's a perfect shelf but I would still call the red dress a shelf too.
 
I've always seen that kind of trim referred to as bobble trim, or occasionally as bauble trim. It pops up quite often in old crochet laces.

That dress is gorgeous! I wish that I could wear that color red, but my hair would clash like whoa. :(
 
At the time the dress was made in the mid 1950s it would have been called an 'Empire waist with Princess line bodice' - those two terms are used together all the time 1955/56 as there is a seam under the bust but instead of it falling from that seam, it is fitted. I have never seen the term 'shelf bust' used in the 1950s, although I realize its used now. I thought the trim was called 'dingle fringe' or 'drop fringe', but it doesn't show up on searches, so it might be an archaic term now.
 
You're right Jonathan - shelf bust is a modern term. The first time I heard something similar was in the late '90s when goths (like me) were wearing corsets, that pushed our boobs up as if they were on a shelf - in the early 2000s the term started to appear on ebay with regard to '50s dresses.

In my book "Love Vintage" I refer to the style of this dress as empire line and princess seams. I don't think an empire line precludes a waist, just that the seam is above the usual waist.
 
I remember about 6 years ago when we also used the term "dingle balls" for this type of trim, but I would go with "bobble" or "ball" fringe - sounds a
bit classier LOL.

I've also always thought of shelf bust like that shown in the dress Liz T. is wearing.
 
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