#7334 $650
Floral chiffon flapper dress, c.1938
After the hard edged geometry of Art Deco, the floral chiffons of the late 1920s were like a fresh spring breeze. This charming dress, from the endpoint of the flapper period, features a print of radiant flowers in shades of rose, cream, and coral with black accents.
The lightweight dress closes on the side with snaps. It floats over the body like a delicate butterfly and is attached at the neckline to a peach colored silk crepe slip. I love the ultra feminine, fluttery sleeves.
What a playful and pretty dress that reflects the unbounded optimism of the times! As the 1926 hit song put it: "Blue skies smiling at me; nothing but blue skies do I see...Never saw the sun shining so bright; never saw things going so right."
The brief Flapper Era (1924-1929) defined the whole decade. The short and showy flapper styles came to an abrupt end with the stock market crash of 1929. When I viewed the 2005 Chanel exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was impressed by how modern the flapper styles appear today.
The condition is almost excellent. In the hem ruffle are a few holes that do not go through the under layer. This is reflected in the price. Without the holes, the price would $900 to $950. With the backing in place, the holes are hard to see. They do not spoil the appearance.
It measures: 36" bust, 32" waist, 36" hipline, and 43" from shoulder to hem.
