Description
This navy blue, late 1950s or early 1960s sundress and cropped jacket set is made of one of my favorite textiles—eyelash fabric! The navy background is woven with red, aqua, and yellow contrasting designs. Each colorful design has short, fluffy threads on its surface, like little eyelashes! The background also has shorter “eyelashes” in matching navy blue. The scoop-neck sleeveless sundress has darts to shape the bodice and a semi-full, pleated skirt. The fitted, waist-length jacket has notched lapels, narrow bracelet-length sleeves, and a single button closure in front. The jacket will fit quite close to the body, just able to go over the dress, as shown. The dress fastens in back with a metal zipper that does not go all the way to the top of the back neckline--meaning the it will have to be pulled on over the head. The semi-sheer fabric of the dress and jacket is quite light-weight, most likely a polyester and cotton blend.
Beautifully home-sewn by the talented seamstress mother of the original owner, the dress half of the set has been altered at least once. I have let out the seams that were previously taken in, and you can very faintly see the lines where the bodice had been made smaller. The dress bodice is lined with black rayon faille. The skirt section was originally lined with white sheer mesh fabric, which was damaged when I had the dress dry-cleaned. I removed as much of the original lining fabric as reasonably possible, since it was sewn into each seam. The tiny scraps of leftover white lining will not be seen when the dress is worn, fortunately! The jacket is lined with deep blue acetate chiffon, which is intact. In very good condition, sturdy and quite wearable, the set has one other small issue: a mend at the left bust area (see my close-up photo), which blends in pretty well with the texture of the fabric weave.
SIZE: XS-S.
Best fit for a slightly long-waisted regular or a tall size, not a petite (see underarm to waist length measurement of dress).
DRESS.
- Bust: 36 inches flat, to fit up to 35 max.
- Waist: 28 inches flat, to fit up to 27 max.
- Hip: full (44 inches flat).
- Length: 40 inches from shoulder to hem in front.
- Underarm to waist: 9 inches (regular or tall size).
- Waist to hem: 23 inches.
JACKET.
- Bust: 36 inches flat.
- Width at hem/waist: 27.5 inches flat (.5 inches smaller than the dress).
- Length: 16 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Sleeve length: 22.5 inches.
- Sleeve width at bicep: 12 inches flat.
- Shoulder to shoulder: 14 inches.
LABEL: none (home sewn)
