Description
This novelty print cotton 1950s dress and bolero jacket set features a botanical print of leaves, branches and tiny berries in shades of golden tan, mahogany red-brown, and black. The dress has a sleeveless, fitted bodice, with a wide inset waist panel from ribcage to waist seam. Small pleats above the waist panel add fullness to the front bust. The full skirt has pleats at the front only. The scoop neckline and arm openings of the dress are trimmed with fabric to match the cropped jacket. The bolero-style jacket is made of a crisp, lightweight fabric with a coarse weave and a shiny surface. It resembles linen with a shiny surface treatment, but may actually be something called butcher cloth, made of a rayon and cotton blend. The jacket has a curved hem, rounded lapels, and short, cuffed sleeves. Both the dress and the jacket have decorative buttons in the 2 fabrics. The self-fabric belt is still present. The wonderful novelty print, plain weave cotton fabric has larger leaves in several shapes, plus smaller leaves that look a lot like tiny hearts. It has been used horizontally on the dress bodice, and turned diagonally on the skirt, creating a chevron effect at center front and back. Dress and jacket are both unlined, and the dress fastens with a side seam metal zipper. In very good condition, the printed cotton fabric has some minor, overall wash-fade, and the slightest hint of darkening at the underarms. The set is in very good condition, with no odors or any other issues to note. I hand-washed the dress and jacket with no problems, but I might recommend dry-cleaning for the jacket in future, as the slightly stiff fabric becomes more fragile when wet. I believe that the dress will fit best for a regular or tall size medium. It will not be a good fit for a petite based on the length of the bodice, which is about 1 inch longer than typical for the era (see measurements).
SIZE: M (best for regular or tall).
DRESS.
- Bust: 39 inches flat with a bit of extra room in cups. Best for approx. 38-39.
- Ribcage (at top of inset waist panel): 33 inches flat.
- Waist: 30.5 inches flat, to fit approx. 29.5 inches.
- Hip: full.
- Length: 46 inches from shoulder to hem in front.
- Underarm to waist: 9 inches.
- Waist to hem: 28.5 inches.
- Shoulder to shoulder: 15 inches.
JACKET.
- Length: 15 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Sleeve: 8.5 inches long with 13-inch flat opening (6.5 inches, doubled).
- Shoulder to shoulder: 14.75 inches.
LABEL: none
