#2709 $2,200
Beaded net evening dress, 1930s.
Examples of sophisticated 1930s glamour are hard to find on the market today. Few were produced during the Depression for the 1% who could afford them. Made from fine black net covered with alternating bands of black beads and sequins, the sexsational dress glides over the body, molding to your curves.
There is a dramatic train in back. The hem is bordered with a wide band of beaded black lace, which adds necessary weight to the train for graceful movement. The dress slips on without closures.
The bodice is open on the sides to the waist; the skirt is slit up the waist on one side. Viewers' eyes are drawn, as if by a magnet, to the draped fabric just above the slit. Zoom in on the focal point to see how the centripetal beading does the job.
With their shimmer and sparkle, the black beads and sequins intimate the romantic intrigue of the night. Black-on-black makes a sophisticated design statement. This is a dress that bespeaks wealth and stylishness in a confident, understated manner.
At the same time, the strategic placement of the design focal point at the hip will have a powerful, subliminal effect on viewers, and especially on the male half of your audience :)
This brings to mind a remark by film director Billy Wilder, who was asked about subtlety in the movies. "Of course, there must be subtleties," Wilder said. "Just make sure you make the subtleties obvious."
With their irresistible glamour, 1930s high style dresses retain their hold on us today. In these seductive gowns, we see the yearning for the unattainable, for the lost world of the 1920s, in short for glamour, the key concept in 1930s high style clothing.
The condition is almost excellent. The lace on the train has been backed for support. You may find an occasional missing bead, but nothing caught my eye.
The loose open style fits a variety of sizes. It measures about 40" circumference and 58" from shoulder to front hem.
It was photographed on a mannequin that measures 36" bust, 25" waist, and 36" hip.
