Bobby socks, pony tails and cherry Cokes.....

Going to the sock hop? The perfect teenie-bopper dress from the early 1960s by Pat Boone. Quilted cotton with a tyrolean inspired print in shades of olive, deep pink and blue. The dress is cut with a fitted sleeveless bodice, square neckline, nipped waist and a full gathered skirt.

The back of the dress makes the design more interesting. Instead of buttoning up the front it closes in back with a double row of green buttons. A contrasting decorative ribbon trim is used as accent in front and back.

A well made garment the inside is fully underlined in cherry red cotton. I photographed with a petticoat under the skirt to show off it's fullness. This will not be included.

The size is smallish with junior proportions, meaning the bust size is small in proportion to the waist. It has the following measurements

Bust 34"

Waist 26"

Hips free

Waist to hem length 27"

Shoulder to waist length 15 1/2"

Excellent Condition no flaws to note

Festive ruffle tiered cotton print dress from the late 1940s. The print is just wonderful, a modernist flower and leaf motif in orange, black and brown on an ivory ground.

The style is young and fresh....sweetheart neckline with elastic gathered straps than can be worn on or off the shoulder...a fitted bodice and full triple tiered, ruffle skirt. The neckline and skirt tiers are defined with black piping. The tiers and gathered shoulders hint at a southwestern peasant look. Very Pretty!

The dress has a side metal zipper. This is a new old stock piece that was never worn. It came to me without it's original belt so I used a length of black gross grain ribbon as a sash. This will be included with the dress.

I photographed with a petticoat to show off the skirt. Petticoat is not included.

The inside label reads Lee Wentley by Wentworth. I estimate it's date to be around 1948-1949. The size is Small with  the following measurements.

Bust 35"

Waist 27"

Hips Free

Length of Skirt from waist to hem 28"

Excellent Condition - No flaws to note

The hippie movement of the 60s-70s sparked a number of fashion trends. There was great interest in all things "ethnic" as well an idealized  view of "peasant" life. Designers began creating romantic country dresses and textile designers looked to ethic themes for their prints. Natural fibers were also becoming popular, cottons in particular.

This darling midi dress from the late 1960s has all these characteristics. The design is simple with a fitted bodice, jewel neckline and long shirt style sleeves. It has a midi (ankle length) gathered skirt  which finishes in a deep ruffle of coordinating fabric. It ties at the waist with a self fabric sash. The fabric is 100% cotton with a bright "Old World" inspired print, featuring young maidens and men along with birds, sheep and twining flowers and trees. The background is red and it has a bordered engineered design.

The cotton fabric is sturdy but the print has faded some with washing, this is only noticeable on the black areas of the design and it is even throughout, not just in one area.. I was in Jr. high in those days and I remember faded clothing being quite popular.....jeans, workshirts, skirts and dresses. Oh! and dingy sneakers too. It was considered the height of nerdiness to wear a pair of pristine sneakers. We actually scuffed them up on purpose...but I digress...

Aside from minimal fading the dress is in great condition. It zippers up the back and the label reads Barclay Square. The size is medium with the following measurements.

Bust 37"

Waist 28"

Hips up to 42"

Length of skirt from waist to hem 36"

Very Good Condition

Stunning early 1960s cocktail dress by Suzy Perrette. The Suzy Perrette company created high end ready to wear that closely copied French couture. The dresses were cut to flatter and often used the most exquisite fabrics.
This vintage beauty is constructed from a metallic brocade, matelasse that whispers expensive with every swish.

It has a wide scooped neck which dips lower in back and fitted bodice. The 3/4 length sleeves are gusseted under the arms for a close but comfortable fit. There is a wide self fabric belt and gathered bell shaped skirt. As with every Suzy the construction is stellar. The bodice is underlined in black organza and it has a built in tulle petticoat.

An absolutely stunning dress for any very special occasion.

Medium in size with the following measurements.

Bust 39"
Waist 28"
Hips free"
Length from waist to hem 28"

Excellent Condition
 

1950s Dinner, Dance or Party dress

 Lustrous acetate crepe in a warm taupe. Empire style dress with gathered surplice bodice and soft shoulder. Wide dolman sleeves. Princess fitted waist and full skirt. Empire seam is defined by a self fabric inset that finishes in back with a smart bow. Skirt fullness is enhanced with a deep, center-back inverted pleat. The skirt is underlined with taffeta to give it body and it has a side metal zipper.

The plunging neckline dispels any hint of prim, in this ladylike yet sophisticated design. A very versatile special occasion dress that can cross seasons. The neutral tone is a perfect canvas for numerous accessory choices. Just about any color you can think of will work. I'm a brooch fan and would probably pick something huge and sparkly but a necklace would be beautiful as well. I have it pictured with a semi full petticoat underneath which gave it just the right amount of fullness. The petticoat is not included but there are lots of online sources for both new and vintage petticoats. (just key word petticoat or crinoline).

The dress is a medium size and will work well on someone with height and can accommodate a very full bustline It has the following measurements.

Bust up to 40"

Waist 28"

Empire seam right under bust 30"

Hips Free

Length from shoulder to hem 48"

Excellent Condition

 Cocktails in the garden....

 The finest cotton sateen and matching print voile went into the making of this lovely Christan Dior dress.  The cut is so  elegant....sleeveless sheath silhouette with draped panel accent and shirred "empire" bodice. The print is a bouquet of stylized florals in  shades of blue, green and aqua with highlights of lemon yellow. The body of the dress is silky cotton sateen...the drape and shirred bodice are done in sheer, matching print, voile. The date is difficult to pin point because it's such a classic style but with the help of my colleagues at the Vintage Fashion Guild we determined it was mid 1960s.

Ready to wear never got any better than Christian Dior New York, it was the closest you could come to couture. The prices were high and so was the quality. This dress is completely underlined in soft cotton batiste, all of the facings are hand finished and the zipper is invisibly hand stiched INSIDE to remain in place without any signs of stiching on the outside (speaking as a dressmaker this is really cool!) the hem is quite generous.

I don't know what else to say...it's just gorgeous!

Small size, the dress is designed to skim the body not cling tightly so the bust measurement is smaller in proportion than a more fitted dress would be.

Bust - JUST makes 35"

Waist - 30"

Hips - 38"

Length from shoulder to hem -  39"

Mint Condition inside and out, this dress looks like it was never worn