Description
This somewhat spooky, novelty print 2-piece dress from the late 1940s or early 1950s features a seaside fishing village in silhouette, complete with gold metallic embellishments! The turquoise or aqua blue, black, and white cotton print fabric design includes: several different kinds of boats/sailing ships, a lighthouse, other buildings with pointy rooflines, trees, a fisherman with nets, and a lady with a parasol. The gold paint on the buildings resembles lighted windows—such a cool effect!
The cropped-length, cap-sleeve blouse has a straight hem that ends just above the natural waist, to wear either slightly overlapping the wide skirt waistband, or tucked into it. There are vertical darts to shape the bust and waist of the blouse. Below its fitted waistband, the skirt has many small gathers to add fullness at the hips. It is more of a “peasant” style skirt: semi-full, rather than a super-full circle-type skirt that is typical of the mid-to-late 1950s. Both pieces are made of unlined, plain weave cotton, and both have metal side seam zippers. I believe that the set was home sewn, based on the mismatched zipper colors (see photo).
In good, sturdy condition, this darling vintage novelty print blouse and skirt set has several issues:
- Some overall faint yellowing to the hem area of the skirt, and a more noticeable yellowed area near the left front hem (see photo).
- One place on the front of the skirt where the gold paint has transferred, from being stored for a long time folded, I’d guess.
- One faint mark at the back of the blouse neckline, and one larger, more visible mark on the center front neckline. I suspect that these neckline marks are both from the same source, and look like water staining to me.
- I have also shown the mark on the front neckline from its under-side. It is a bit less visible from the front/outer side, due to the busy print.
I feel that this unique novelty print, late 1940s or early 50s cotton 2-piece dress is still quite wearable, despite its various flaws!
Size: XS
TOP.
- Bust: 35 inches flat, to fit up to 34 max.
- Waist/hem: 28 inches flat (skirt waist is several inches smaller).
- Length: 14.5 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Shoulder to shoulder: N/A (no shoulder seams).
- Sleeve length: approx. 2.5 inches.
- Sleeve opening: 11 inches flat, total.
SKIRT.
- Waist: 25 inches flat, to fit up to 24.
- Hips: 54 inches flat (full).
- Length: 30 inches.
- Sweep/width at hem: 90 inches flat.
LABEL: none (probably home-sewn)
