This coral cotton percale 1950s dress with a full skirt has a lovely, pleated and cinched bodice design with the tiniest of cap sleeves. The vertical pleating extends from the scoop neckline to the waist seam, crisscrossed by bands of piping that wrap under the bust, around the ribcage, and at the waist. The long, loose ends of this wide, flat piping tie in front, as shown. More self-fabric piping trims the neck and sleeve openings, and forms the small bow decorating the center front of the neckline. The bodice is shaped with diagonal bust darts and boning (in front only). The skirt is gathered into small pleats at the waist seam and flares into a very full shape, below. The dress is shown here with a large, fluffy crinoline underneath, which is not included—although I do have some for sale. The dress is unlined, except for a section of off-white muslin from the underbust to the waist in front, to which 3 vertical strips of boning are attached—see photo. The dress fastens with a metal zipper in the side seam. Expertly home-sewn by the original owner’s mother, this lovely, muted coral cotton 1950s dress is in very good, nearly excellent condition, with some very slight discoloration at the edges of the underarms, unlikely to be noticed when it is worn (see close-up photo). The original owner had a true hourglass figure, and she was quite tall for the era, so the bodice length and the skirt are a bit longer than is typical for 1950s dresses. Please check the measurements for more details about fit, and feel free to contact me with any questions.
Size: XS / curvy at bust / best for regular or tall, not petite
Bust: 38” flat, to fit approx. 36B or 34C-D
Waist: 26” flat, to fit 25”
Hip: full
Length: 48” from shoulder to hem in front
Underarm to waist length: 9” (tall/long waisted)
Waist to hem length: 31.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Label: none
