This beautiful evening dress was made in the 1940's.
It features an upward curving waist which meets a gathered bodice. The skirt is slim fitting and has a slightly longer hem in the back than the front and it has a back tie belt, which means you can cinch it to your required size.
The sleeves are elbow length and have darted sleeve heads, with taffeta shoulder pads to help them keep their shape. The bodice, back neck and sleeves feature an openwork embroidered design, in foliate pattern, backed with net and the finishing touch to this beautiful piece is a shallow band of net around the neckline and sleeve ends.
Measurements
This piece will best fit up to a 36-30-38 but to ensure that it will fit you properly, please compare the measurements below to a similar piece you already own. There is no side opening so you'll need to be able to fit your bust through the waist opening.
Flat bust 19"
Flat waist 16.5"
Flat hip 19.5"
Shoulders between sleeves 14"
Underarm sleeve length 6.5"
Flat cuff 5"
Shoulder to waist 17"
Shoulder to hem down the back 58" - the hem is 2" longer in the back than the front
Condition
Good with some points to note;
- as is so often the case with purple pieces from the 1940's, there is a degree of colour change, the most noticeable area is under the arms but there are some other small areas on the skirt and a pinkish mark on the right seat
- there are a large number of darns across the bottom of the skirt, all below knee length, and a number of single thread plucks
- two marks around the collar, they are pale and not showing up well in the photos but you can just make them out
- a few small repairs to the openwork
Even with the issues it is a divine dress and the issues will be barely visible, if at all, at an evening dance.