This circa 1929-1930 floral silk chiffon dress has some styling details that are holdovers from the 1920s, and others that place it in the very early 1930s. My best guess is right about 1930! The light-as-a-feather silk chiffon fabric is a gorgeous floral print in orange, yellow, green, and brown. The cape-style collar just barely drapes over the shoulders of the sleeveless bodice, with tiny knots at the center front and back. Vertical topstitching in chocolate brown accents the upper bodice. The waist seam is just slightly below natural waist. A fluttering peplum drapes over the hips in front, with a chartreuse celluloid ring sewn into its center. Below the hips, a single strip of silk crepe in matching floral print has been inserted into the skirt. Below the crepe stripe, the skirt is gently flared to the hem, at about mid-calf. The dress has a pale peachy-pink silk crepe lining sewn inside, attached to the outer floral chiffon fabric above the bust in front, and at the upper back. While the floral print chiffon looks great, the lining fabric has a few issues: A weak area at the front bust, a few mends at each underarm, a fairly long split at the hem on one side seam, and tiny split at the other side seam hem (see photos). If the lining fabric were removed, I’d say the dress was in excellent condition, remarkably sturdy for its age. With the lining issues, it is in good condition. The only other thing to note is that the contrasting silk crepe stripe inset is hand-sewn on, almost basted, unlike the rest of the machine-sewn dress seams. This garden party floral silk dress from the very early 1930s is a true vintage beauty, clean and ready to wear with moderate care. Width measurements were taken from the lining, which is a bit smaller than the floral outer layer.
Size: XS. (Smallest at bust, and intended for loose fit).
- Bust: 38 inches flat to fit up 35, or 32B-34A at maximum. The bust is a bit too small to fit properly on 34B, for reference.
- Waist: 38 inches flat.
- Hip: 44 inches flat to fit up to max 38 very loosely.
- Length: 42.5 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Underarm to waist seam: 9 inches.
- Shoulder to shoulder: 13 inches flat, from edge to edge, in back.
- Label: none
