What year is this dress? 50s?

V

Vixen

Registered Guest
Hello everyone!

You've been so great helping me so far! Anyhoo, what can you tell me about this dress? It comes w/matching wide belt, so it sort of throws me off. Also, do the pics come up ok?
Thanks!
Sharonne
(ps how do I add my eBay name to my posts)

<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3213.jpg' width=299 height=531 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3216.jpg' width=356 height=306 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3215.jpg' width=338 height=510 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3217.jpg' width=237 height=515 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3218.jpg' width=269 height=458 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3221.jpg' width=253 height=457 >
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-3/674349/Img_3219.jpg' width=324 height=366 >
 
Really??? I mean it's got all the signs of a vintage dresse, pinked seams, full crinoline, metal zipper & lined. Am I doing something wrong in the pics that are making it come across 80s? Is the belt on backwards maybe?
 
Also, the skirt feels like chiffon or something, it's really light & fluffly. And layers of see-through-ness.
 
You know, I don't remember if there was a label or not - but usually if there is, I take a pic of it. I'll have to check again tonight and check the back of the belt to see if it's leather or plastic.
The feel of the dress though, in person, is just way too nice to be 80s, but I could be way off, I'm no expert! ;)
It's just super luxurious, and like soft chiffon or something, if that makes sense. Also, the top part that's see-through is lined with see through fabric as well, there's a ton of attention to detail.
 
Remember, there is amazingly made things in the 80s too

Jonathan, what are the features of this dress that draw you to that conclusion so she can deduce the same or we can compare/contrast?

To me the belt is a bit wide for 50s but then again it may not be original.
Pinked seams can occur later if it was made by a good seamstress.
 
Let me clarify...average everyday clothes on average are not nearly the same quality as it was in the 50s by far. But you could still find a really expert seamstress that could make something very high quality. A lot of people associate the 80s, etc, with garbage, but there are some finely made things, you just have to go up the foodchain higher than you do if you were looking for something decently made that was made in the 50s. make any sense?
 
Sorry, I hope that I wasn't coming across as "if it's 80s it's trash". That wasn't my intention! It's just that I felt really sure this was an earlier dress, but again I could be wrong. What are some better things that would help me identify the year of the dress? Also, would pics of the inside help at all or anythign else I can do?
Also, the belt appears to be the original, but I don't know if I put it on backwards etc.
 
No apology needed....i was just meaning that well made is not the only criteria for age....

I don't see a buckle on the belt...what does it close with?
 
I might be wrong... the wide belt looked 80s to me, although they were around in the 50s, but I usually think of wide belts going with separates, not a dress, which usually use narrow belts in the 50s. The puffed sleeves made me think 80s too, and the double flounced skirt with the pleated edging, as well as the loose fitting chiffon of the bodice and the straight across slip underneath, I would have expected to see a contoured slip, you know, where its peaked over each breast? I also would have expected to see the chiffon of the bodice darted to fit. The wide scoop neckline works for both eras, in fact everything I mentioned isn't unheard of for the 50s, but not the common way. Maybe its about 1960 then, when there is still the silhouette of the 50s but the waists are wider, the tops looser fitting and the hemlines shorter. In which case I could see it is c. 1960, but stil not your normal style of black chiffon party dress of the era.
Now that I look at it closer I see that the sleeves aren't actually puffed but rather slit open on the sides so okay, I was wrong. I didn't look closely enough. c. 1960 then would be my guess.
 
Thanks Jonathan!

the belt to me said 80s and part of the bodice looks like a 60s dress I had, and the double skirt confounded me , so I was a bit confused.
 
Hi,

As far as the belts go, it's got some kind of snaps on the inside, I'll check the belt tonight & post tomorrow.
Did I take pics of the sleeves incorrectly? They don't pouf at all, they're slit on the sides and sort of drape (SO super fun to put the arms of the mannequin in and out of ;))
Is there anything I can do about the pictures to better show the dress?
Thanks SO much for all the help!
 
Now, the sleeves are fine.

The belt to me having a snap makes me think its not original to the dress. The belt would haev had a buckle i think. I have not seen too many belts from this time that were snapped. I would show the dress without the belt of it were me as an atlernate view.
 
I don't think the belt is original to the dress and if it is I think it would've
closed at the back.

The construction details of the dress definitely sound 50s to me.

Check if there is any writing on the inside of the belt.

I think your pictures are very good - black is a beggar to photograph and you show the details of the dress perfectly.

Sue
 
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