What'cha ma call it?

Sydneys Vintage Clothing

Sydneys Vintage Clothing

Alumni
What\'cha ma call it?

I have held this one back, because I do not know what to call the treatment of these arms! From the 30's, bias, with a mermaid tail. From the top of the shoulder on each side is a piece of fabric that loops around to the back side of the shoulder. At the middle of the loop, it is tied in a knot, (all one piece of fabric on each arm). So instead of me calling these what'cha ma call it's, is there a proper term for this style, treatment?!?! Or did a 1930's seamstress dream up something? Thank in advance for all of your help.
ebay080607no070.jpg

ebay080607no080.jpg

ebay080607no074.jpg

ebay080607no081.jpg
 
I got help with a dress with similar sleeves not long ago. All the photos aren't in place, but you can see the similarity here. Even with that knot, I believe they are called cowl sleeves.

GORGE-ous dress!
 
Oops, sorry!

Here's the dress with similar sleeves:

brownblackgreermodel1.jpg

brownblackgreermodel2.jpg


I was told that these are cowl sleeves. Does this seem close? That knot is something I've never seen before!
 
I'm not sleeve expert but your sleeves Maggie actually look like a cowl neck sideways
where Sydney's appear to be open on both the outer and inner side.

I'm such a big help...not:)
 
That sadly shattered bias cut dress I had awhile back had similar sleeves, that was the first time I had seen anything like that. I didn't pursue naming them as the dress was most likely only good for study / pattern. Thinking back, maybe I should have added that piece if information if I had found it.

Short answer - I have no idea what they are called - beautiful dress though!
 
Maggie~ That is the closest I have seen, but of course these have the knot at the bottom. I may refer to them as a "similar style of cowl sleeves", or could "possibly be a form of cowl sleeves" if no one else comes along with the knowledge to the rescue.

Karen~ Your right the sleeves are open on both sides. I have tried to tie them up on the shoulders forming a puff, bow, you name it. I gave up, steamed them and took the photo! Mystery!

Sharon~ do you still have pictures of the shattered one?

Thanks everybody for your help.
 
Sydney, could the knot have been added later in an attempt to tame the sleeves? Seeing the comparison with (the other) Maggie's, I'm wondering how yours would look with the fabric sleeve panel softer and more flowing.
 
Heres a couple of views-

In the front view it looks like the arms are coming through a sort of "bubble" type sleeve, but it's made up of a couple of wide strips attached at the back of the shoulder, turned, and then attached at the front - oh, it was so pretty and like I said, I've never seen a sleeve treatment like it before (I've led a very sheltered life) so I was intrigued. The way it was set in the arm hole it appeared that there was really no "wrong" way to put your arm through the sleeve. It draped nicely however it was placed.

f1005.JPG


f1001.JPG
 
That is the same style and made the same way, except on mine the sleeves strips are not as wide. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It is a same it was shattered, it is a beauty.
 
A similar sleeve, part of a 30's dress, came up recently on the Ebay Vintage Clothing Board and although the sleeve formed a peak and was open on the shoulder as well, no-one could find an authenticated term for it. The cut-away underarm was obviously a used pattern at the time and I've seen a number of dresses with this feature. It probably exists as a dress-making pattern and this dress may be made by a seamstress.

I'm not sure it would technically be called a cowl sleeve. Maybe a 'slashed cowl?' The cut of a 40's cowl sleeve is given here;

http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-04.html

The knots are reminiscent of an early Victorian sleeve I've seen somewhere on my travels. It's one of the best decades for innovative sleeve cutting. If it exists - I'd love to know what the sleeve is called. The dress is a dream!
 
Originally posted by vertugarde
A similar sleeve, part of a 30's dress, came up recently on the Ebay Vintage Clothing Board and although the sleeve formed a peak and was open on the shoulder as well, no-one could find an authenticated term for it. The cut-away underarm was obviously a used pattern at the time and I've seen a number of dresses with this feature. It probably exists as a dress-making pattern and this dress may be made by a seamstress.

I'm not sure it would technically be called a cowl sleeve. Maybe a 'slashed cowl?' The cut of a 40's cowl sleeve is given here;

http://vintagesewing.info/1940s/42-mpd/mpd-04.html

The knots are reminiscent of an early Victorian sleeve I've seen somewhere on my travels. It's one of the best decades for innovative sleeve cutting. If it exists - I'd love to know what the sleeve is called. The dress is a dream!
Click to expand...

Great sleeve details on that link.
Thanks!
 
That site is so imformative! If only I could sew. I think the term "Slashed Cowl Variation" just might qualify, or come to the closet I have seen in 6 months of searching. You know how you as a seller have something, try to research for a while, dig up nothing, or not enough, place it back into the do to list. Then suddenly one day, bring it out again, thinking, I can conquer this today! Am I the only one that does this? Anyway rambling here, thanks to all of you that have helped.
 
Great site!

Just wanted to add that I don't have a name for them either, but recently sold an orange velvet 30s gown with the same treatment (minus the knotty things).

Maggie: I think you've missed your calling. You'd make a great femme fatale! That dress of yours is amazing. I hope it went to a good home.
 
Ok, I checked my Dictionary of Costume and Fashion and Maggie's is definitely a cowl sleeve, but I think yours is a modified cowl or possibly even a "hanging sleeve"-sleeve with a slit in the front so the arm itself can come through. It's a 15th century design.

If there is no tag, I would venture the seamstress was being very avant garde with this sleeve.

Sandra
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top