Can you help me date this item??

[crazydaisy]

Similar feedsack found on line:

 

[crazydaisy]

Oh, and the buttons are pretty cool

 

[Lauren]

That's a hard one. It does have the right look for the period- even the fabric looks right. The buttons could be newer but the zip most certainly is. Zippers weren't very common in clothing until the late 1930s, though some people did put zippers in the mid 1930s- but even then they would have been metal or a thick plastic (like bakelite almost). There would not have been zippers in 1920s clothing, especially plastic ones similar to modern zippers.
My guess is that it could have been either made for theatre or been an original period piece that was updated for theatre and they added a zip. That was not at all an uncommon thing for theatrical groups or films to do.

 

[crazydaisy]

That's a very interesting view! With the plastic zipper I simply thought it must be a modern imitation of a 20's style, but what you are saying definitely adds interest to this piece.

 

[crazydaisy]

And and for the second thing I need to ask about. I actually have pics of me in it, which will save a lot of words.
I bought it on impulse of Etsy. When I saw the rust color for which I had a serious hankering, a skirt that in the very bad pics provided looked cut on the bias, and measurements spot on, I couldn't reason anymore.
Alas, when it came, I thought :"Oops, this is beautiful, but...not 1930s". I know, I know, I should have known looking at the collar, the 3/4 sleeves, the scalloped hem on the jacket.
I contacted the seller to ask how confident she was about her 1930's dating. She was very nice, but ended up saying that really it couldn't be any more recent than late 40's early 50's. Now that's exactly my issue . Surely 1930's is not quite the same as late 40s to 50's. And to me, that's exactly how this suit looks like: a1947, New Look, perhaps early 50s made? The fact that the color is flattering and it fits perfectly doesn't make things any easier .
Anyhow, sorry about the saga, I am appealing to your knowledge once again for more accurate dating that I could hope at this stage to do myself. Ans also to tell me if this looks right or frumpy on me.

 

[crazydaisy]

The skirt has 4 longitudinal seams, like these in the pattern, described as dating from mid to late 40's.

 

[crazydaisy]

Am I looking at something along these lines?

 

[Lauren]

Yes, you are perfectly right. The outfit is late 40s, very possibly early 50s but I would say late 40s.
Sellers often times get these eras confused. I see it ALL the time. The late 40s went back to the styles that were coming in just pre WWII. It's almost like that fashion that was to be up and coming in 1938-1939 stopped dead until about 1947, then picked right back up where it left off. That's what you get for fabric rationing! So the new look really wasn't that "new", it just had a chance to catch on And waists were nipped in more. They tried it in 1939 but it never caught on.
They are pretty similar, but not in entirety. You're right at looking at pattern covers. Pull up some side by side and they are close even if the illustration styles had changed. There's just a little je ne sais quoi that tells them apart in person. Sometimes it's the hem length. While hems were starting to go up in the late 30s they were coming back down in the late 40s.

 

[I Adore Film Noir]

And and for the second thing I need to ask about. I actually have pics of me in it, which will save a lot of words.
I bought it on impulse of Etsy. When I saw the rust color for which I had a serious hankering, a skirt that in the very bad pics provided looked cut on the bias, and measurements spot on, I couldn't reason anymore.
Alas, when it came, I thought :"Oops, this is beautiful, but...not 1930s". I know, I know, I should have known looking at the collar, the 3/4 sleeves, the scalloped hem on the jacket.
I contacted the seller to ask how confident she was about her 1930's dating. She was very nice, but ended up saying that really it couldn't be any more recent than late 40's early 50's. Now that's exactly my issue . Surely 1930's is not quite the same as late 40s to 50's. And to me, that's exactly how this suit looks like: a1947, New Look, perhaps early 50s made? The fact that the color is flattering and it fits perfectly doesn't make things any easier .
Anyhow, sorry about the saga, I am appealing to your knowledge once again for more accurate dating that I could hope at this stage to do myself. Ans also to tell me if this looks right or frumpy on me.

IMHO it is Dior's New Look 1947, similar to this Dior:

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I picked this Kenmore up at my local Woolworth's for next to nothing, but have no real idea of manufacture other than "30s-40s" that it was listed as. Any ideas?

I have a sewing machine almost identical that was my grandmother's from 1938.

http://www.searsarchives.com/history/files/sewing_id.pdf

This list gives all the model numbers and the years they were produced. You should be able to find it here.

 

[AllaboutEve]

Crazydaisy - That feedsack suit really reminds me of the the 60's mod tailoring that one of my old school friends was mad keen on. I wonder what it's history is?

It's a fabulous suit and has wonderful detailing, and is a real enigma as it could be the result of so many different eras and materials.

 

[crazydaisy]

Yes, it would be fantastic to know its story! It's a real cutie and I can't wait to wear it!
It definitely looks the part when on. I generally don't think much of 60's or more modern interpretations of the 20's. In fact, I nearly always hate them with a passion. In this case my emotions are rather different. Perhaps because I started with having low expectations, and ended up with something lovely and which apparently has a chance of being at least partly authentic. If it is a reworked garment it would have been such a treat to learn its history!

 

[villa]

Hi, I am new to the forum, so Hi! Love you guys, and I am so glad to become part of this fun and knowledgable community. I have yet to figure out how to post correctly. Can anyone tell me how to get pics onto my post?
I put the pics of the coat I need help dating on the last page of my website on a page titled Undated Coat, so if would like to, you can follow the link to my website and see it there. It is the only item on that page.
PS, I just made the site ~ Any feedback on it would be awesome! I am a total amateur and never made a site before. I tried to make it attractive but simple.

 

[I Adore Film Noir]

Hi, I am new to the forum, so Hi! Love you guys, and I am so glad to become part of this fun and knowledgable community. I have yet to figure out how to post correctly. Can anyone tell me how to get pics onto my post?
I put the pics of the coat I need help dating on the last page of my website on a page titled Undated Coat, so if would like to, you can follow the link to my website and see it there. It is the only item on that page.
PS, I just made the site ~ Any feedback on it would be awesome! I am a total amatur and never made a site before. I tried to make it attractive but simple.

Your website is adorable. From the pictures, I'd say the coat is 1900-1919.

 

[villa]

Thanks Film Noir. I thought it might be that old, but I am always unsure with things older than the twenties. It's like I have a hard time believing thay could be that old!

 

[Lauren]

Stunning coat! I agree it's probably late 1910s. Probably 1916-18ish.

 

[Vintage Hippy]

Maybe someone can help me out? I bought a dress of Ebay listed as 1950s. It is a beautiful dress in white nylon with a black flocked pattern. While I am sure it is 50s, it has little pink and silver hexagon shaped sequin type things (but no hole in the centre) stuck in the flocking. I did pull one off, but it pulls off some of the flocking too. I would like to know if you think these could be original, as I suspect they have been added later, but some seem to be in the flocking. I would love to pull them all off, but they leave the imprint of the shape in the flocking. I have never seen this in a 50s dress so thought Id ask here.

 

[Vintage Hippy]

Anyhow, sorry about the saga, I am appealing to your knowledge once again for more accurate dating that I could hope at this stage to do myself. Ans also to tell me if this looks right or frumpy on me.

I think it looks lovely on you and the colour really suits you. It might not be the year you want but I would go with it.

 

[villa]

Originally Posted by crazydaisy

Anyhow, sorry about the saga, I am appealing to your knowledge once again for more accurate dating that I could hope at this stage to do myself. Ans also to tell me if this looks right or frumpy on me.

I think it looks smashing, and not frumpy at all! Fits perfectly, and it's a beautiful color. I love it.

 

[LinaSofia]

Hi ladies, I have a question for you. I have bought a vintage wedding dress... it's lovely on, flattering, perfect tea length and swingy skirt that will look great with petticoats, the shape is all right EXCEPT it's from the 80s.... it's got a plastic zipper and a drop waist with a gentle v-shape - that typical give-away of an 80s does 50s dress, right? But it's a really nicely made dress, obviously quite expensive once upon a time, the tag reads 'Svaziano Paris'.

My question is - is there any way that I can get away with this dress as 50s? I will post a picture of me in it when I can, but basically I want to know if the v-shape waistline detail was ever used in the 50s or was it a purely 80s thing? Perhaps I could take it to a seamstress to re-model it, even though that would probably shorten it to knee-length rather than tea length.

I love the dress, but I don't want people to think "that's an 80s dress", however much it's actually tasteful and pretty in all its 80s glory...

What do you say ladies? Any ideas?