When am I from? Orange Maid Wrap Dress

[Aphrodite_Nymphia]

I everyone, I have had this lovely wrap dress for some years now, but I have never been able to place it. It is marked "Orange Maid, A New One if it Fades". Has anyone any ideas/ seen anything like this before?


Thanks Emma.

 

[Aphrodite_Nymphia]

The Label

 

[morning-glorious]

Yes I have had the cute Orange Maid label on dresses before. Likely late 40's to early 50's.

Jen

 

[MyVintageCocktail]

It's adorable, and I'm seeing the same timeframe as Jen does, but it seems short. Has it been hemmed up?

 

[joules]

Just send it to me! I love housedresses of this type, and have a real weakness for them.

 

[Jonathan]

I think its a smock, not a dress - they were a lot more popular in the UK than this side of the Atlantic.

 

[joules]

You're right Jonathan. Yep, smock, and I love it.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I think they were house dresses, you were meant to do your housework in them. (most likely why the word maid is on the label) Actually, I don't have any with this particular label but I do have a bunch of these in the same style hiding somewhere in a bin, mine are NOS and they were from a shop in Montreal, Canada. I purchased them directly from the daughter of the original shop owners.

 

[cmpollack]

It's adorable! And what a fabulous label...

It looks very short to me, too. If it was meant as a smock, the length would be appropriate, but as a housedress no. As Anne speculates, maybe it was shortened?

I have a 40s day dress (not a great wrap like yours) in the same colorway/pattern. Love it!

 

[joules]

Mary Jane....you know where to find me.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Mine are longer actually, sorry didn't pay attention to the length.

Julie, when that bin comes around again, I'm pretty sure I brought these to the storage unit, I will let you know. I sold a few when I first got them and then it was winter and I put them away, that was probably about 5 years ago! aaaahhhhh...it is so difficult when you sell online to get this ALL of this stuff on!

 

[joules]

Thanks, Mary Jane. I especially love them when they're crispy NOS.
That sure is the challenge of it, for real.

 

[Midge]

Cute - and the label is adorable!

Karin

 

[catwalkcreative]

Far too pretty to do housework in. :wow:

 

[TangerineBoutique]

So cute! I THINK these wrap things were worn over the womans dress... or skirt and blouse... while cleaning to protect from dust, dirt and cooking mishaps. I don't think they were worn out of the house much exept maybe to hang up clothes.

Is that what you meant by smock Jonathan?

Melody

 

[vintageclothesline]

It could certainly be worn out of the house now!! Adorable!!

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Eureka! It just came to me earlier today what these were called.

I'm pretty sure they were referred to as "dusters" and I guess they were meant to cover your better clothing as you went along doing your chores!

 

[Aphrodite_Nymphia]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thank you for your helpful comments, I have been away and couldn't remember my VFG login!

Emma.