Description
This late 1940s or early 1950s cotton day dress combines black waffle-textured cotton piqué on the cap-sleeve bodice with a charcoal midweight cotton skirt, collar and cuffs, all embroidered with colorful stripes. The bodice fastens from V-neckline to waist seam with gold-tone metal buttons. There is also a side seam metal zipper. The waist can be cinched with the self-fabric sash belt. The skirt is gathered where it meets the fitted waist and flares out gradually, to create a moderately full shape. The cap sleeves have wide openings. The 100% cotton dress unlined.
In good, sturdy and wearable condition, the dress has 3 small mends at the top right shoulder, where the piqué fabric was stressed from being hung on a wire hanger for many years—"no wire hangers ever” is no joke, folks! I mended it as well as I could, but the mends are somewhat visible (see close-up photos). I believe that the background fabric color may have originally been black. However, the cotton of both fabrics has faded to more of a charcoal color from age and normal laundering: the stripe fabric is now a bit lighter in tone than the piqué, as you can see. Freshly laundered and ready to wear, this casually chic and colorful cotton 1940s-50s dress will be a great choice for warmer spring and summer days!
Size: XS.
- Bust: approx. 35 inches flat (a bit hard to measure exactly, due to shape of cap sleeves).
- Waist: 26 inches flat, to fit up to 25 max.
- Hip: 42 inches flat (semi-full).
- Length: 44.5 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Back of neck to waist: 16 inches.
- Waist to hem: 28 inches.
- Sleeve: 3 inches long with 13-inch flat opening.
- Shoulder to shoulder: no seams.
- Sweep: 64 inches at hem.
- Label: Catherine Fashions
