Early 1920s black velvet & print silk embroidered evening dress DR502
Condition: Very good
Price: $275
Measurements
Bust: 37" flat from side seam to side seam, to fit around a size 32-34"
Waist: free
Hip: 37" flat from side seam to side seam, to fit around a size 32-34"
Length: 41" long to the overskirt hem, and 51" to the underskirt hem
Underarm to tassel (high hip) length: 12"
Shoulder to shoulder: 13.5"
Sleeve length: 7"
Neck: 11" around (Very tiny--too small for our mannequin--although the snaps could be moved.)
Label: none
Description
This elegant velvet dress from the early 1920's has the long and lean lines popular in the period before hemlines went up, around the mid-20s. The low-pile, smooth-backed, black velvet is silky to the touch, but I believe that it is a synthetic, possibly rayon, rather than actual silk. The colorful, printed trim fabric is silk, however, roughly textured silk crepe. It is applied over the velvet on the short sleeve hems and on the lower section of the overskirt. It also lines the narrow, crossed collar flaps and edges the center front slit on the bodice. The dress has lovely loops of passementerie trim, applied over the appliquéd silk, and it also has metallic thread embroidery filling these cord loops. The narrow shape of the dress is emphasized by the high collar and by the overskirt that hits at about knee-length, in front only. On the left side, a tri-color tassel adorns the hip, gathering the fabric there loosely. The three-layered tassel hangs below a celluloid "shell" decoration, attached to the dress by two tiny velvet-covered buttons and cording. The only fastenings on the dress are at the neck, where the two flaps un-snap to allow the head to slide through the deeply slit neckline. (The tiny covered buttons at the neck are decorative rather than functional.) The dress is unlined. It is in very good condition, with some fraying to the silk crepe appliqué fabric, and one pinhole in the velvet at the back of the left hip. As with most garments of this era, I recommend wearing the dress only with extreme care. Although the dress is in very good condition now, if you choose to wear rather than display this 90-year-old item, it may not remain so forever. (We have more photos available for this dress, so please do let us know if you'd like to see them.)
