This is a place for any extant garments in private collections from about 1941 back. There is no beginning date. The only rule is that it can't be currently in a museum and must be before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I mostly post items I've seen on ebay, etsy, or other auction sites so we will continue to have a record of them for research purposes. If you have antique clothing in your collection, please, email me pictures of them and I will gladly add them to this site.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Post WWI Dress with Blouse
From the seller:
Antique vintage dress
Comes in 2 pieces
Slip dress with a blouse over it
Slip dress has a rip
From Me:
I question whether these two pieces really go together. The blouse is classic teen's era but the slip dress is pretty short looking - more in keeping with the later 1920's. However, since the seller didn't give measurements, I'm going to compromise and say 1919.
Early Edwardian Dress with Black Lace
From the seller:
This antique Victorian era brown and white cotton calico striped black lace trim dress dates from 1900. It is made of a light brown tan color and white cotton calico floral striped damask weave batiste fabric, with decorative black stitching details and black lace trim inserts. This beautiful summer tea gown dress is a long floor length, with a hemmed shortened full skirt, high neck collar, pleated, lace yoke trim top, long full bishop style sleeves with fitted cuffs, tiny black buttons, hooks for closure down the back and is sheer, unlined. The dress measures 51 inches long, with a 28 inch waist, 36 inch bust and 24 inch long sleeves. It is in good condition, with only a small faint age spot stain on the front top, some separation in the lace trim along the back yoke and skirt (see close-up). This is truly a wonderful piece of wearable antique Victoriana textile art!
From Me:
Based on the sleeve shape, probably about 1903.
Edwardian Corset Cover
From the seller:
This antique Edwardian era embroidered white cotton batiste lace camisole corset cover top dates from 1910. It is made of a white cotton batiste fabric, with raised white embroidered appliqué flowers and lace trim edging. This lovely lacy lingerie camisole corset cover top undergarment has a scalloped trim bib front, lace ruffle trim neckline, armholes, waist with pink ribbon drawstring closures and tiny mother of pearl buttons down the front. The top measures 16 inches long, with an adjustable 28 inch waist and 40 inch bust. It is in excellent condition. This is truly a wonderful piece of antique lace lingerie wearable art!
From Me:
Given the clear pigeon front on this, I wouldn't put this past 1906. I love the "flaps" at the bust to make the bodice more fluffy.
Early Edwardian Sheer and Lace Dress
From the seller:
This is a vintage dress dating from about 1909. I found one very much like it in an old catalog from 1909. It was advertised as being a wedding or a party dress. The dress is a light ivory color. The fabric looks and feels like a very fine linen. There are large net inserts and multiple kinds of lace. The net sleeves are short and puffy with embroidred bands. The bottom of the dress flares so it is quite full at the bottom. There are some repairs. Some are old repairs and some appear to be newer. There are some light rust stains and a few holes in the lace and net. I have tried to provide plenty of photos to show the condition. Hooks-and-eyes run down the center back. The neck was too small for my dress form so I pinned the neck in place. A few of the hooks will need to be replaced. This is a really beautiful example of Edwardian dresses.
From Me:
It's actually from a bit earlier. As you can see, it doesn't have that high waistline or lowered neckline or fitted sleeve or anything really we associate with the later "Titanic" styles - which it should have some elements of if it was from 1909. Below is a fashion plate from 1904.
1850's Tiered Summer Ballgown
From the seller:
Enchanting 1850's Ballgown of Silk Tulle & Ribbon: This once was a stunning gown from the 1850's but now it has stains, small holes and missing silk ribbon. It is a reminder of another time and another place. The inner layer is silk tulle. The top layer is rows of silk tulle ruffles trimmed in silk ribbon. The second row of ruffles on the bodice has one piece of ribbon that is hanging in the back. I measures it and if you were to sew it back in place there is a three inch loss of ribbon because of stains and damage. One of the photos from the back show the silk ribbon hanging from the back of the second row. The second row of ruffles on the skirt is missing all of its silk ribbon. This woman was tiny with a bust of 29, a waist of 21 and shoulders of 13 inches. The length of the skirt is 42. It is right at 160” circumference. This gown is being sold for its historic importance. It was high fashion of its day.
From Me:
1852 |
American Civil War Era Sweet Looking Ballgown
From the seller:
A magnificent 1860’s floral silk ball gown that has recently been de-accessioned from a major New York City museum collection. The fabric has a small pink and blue floral pattern on a champagne background. The bodice has a fan pleating on the front and back. The pleating is outlined with aqua silk. The neckline is trimmed with beige chiffon and has a black velvet ribbon drawstring. The puffed sleeves are trimmed with aqua blue silk and tulle netting. The neck, armscyes and waist are piped. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a back lacing closure. The lacing is missing. The full skirt has a long back sweep. The skirt is unlined except for a band of gauze at the edge of the hemline. The dress is in very good condition. There is a small amount of underarm discoloration, a few small scattered water marks and light soiling on the edge of the hemline. A very beautiful display dress. Bust 33 Waist 23 Front skirt length 43 ½ back length 62 Width at hemline 180.
From Me:
Based on the shape of the bodice and the skirt, probably about 1864 or so. I just love that little pale blue trim highlight around the neckline. It really makes the bodice pop.
1880's Dress
From the seller:
A beautiful 1880’s Princess styled changeable silk bustle dress that has been de-accessioned from a major New York City museum. The fabric has a small black floral pattern that is outlined with light apricot on a darker shade of apricot background. The fabric has a strong dark green undertone. There is no discoloration just shadows created by the camera flash against the changeable fabric. The dress is extensively decorated with purple silk tabs. The outer edges of the tabs are decorated with black beading. The front panel on the skirt is ruched. The back of the dress is gathered into a bustle affect and has a long back sweep. The back is also trimmed with a wide band of black lace. The dress is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. The dress is in very good condition. There is a small amount of stress wear to the upper part of the sleeves, the armscyes and near the waist. There is no underarm discoloration. A stunning display dress that is much more beautiful in person. Bust 32 Waist 22 Skirt front length 39 back length 60.
From Me:
It looks like it's two separate pieces to me which means it's not Princess style - just meant to mimic that style. I believe this is from about 1883 - right as the Natural Form dies and the bustle comes back.
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