#6707 $1,400
Silk/metallic thread evening dress, 1930s
I love the slinky evening wear from the 1930s. The style became synonymous with Hollywood sophistication during the Depression years when America craved fantasy and beauty. In this stunning evening dress, we see the yearning for the unattainable, for the lost world of 1920s glamour.
The term bias cut has become synonymous with the Hollywood look. Here the bias cut was used ingeniously on the sides of the bodice to create deep cowl folds reminiscent of Grecian draped garments. The bias cut molds the dress to the woman, rather than vice versa, thanks to the greatest couturière of all, Madeleine Vionnet.
The dress is fashioned from burnt orange silk crepe woven with stripes of metallic gold. Notice how the stripes form perfect chevrons on the back of the skirt—see the bottom picture. The back of the dress, open to the waist above a long skirt train, is spectacular.
The neckline band closes in back with glittering rhinestone buttons, which are miraculously all there. The dress closes on the side with snaps. The separate belt closes with hooks.
The condition is almost excellent. The dress just shows gentle wear.
It measures: 36"-38" bust (somewhat adjustable due to the open, draped sides), 28" waist, 40" hip, 16 1/2" from the shoulder to the waist, 28" belt length, and 57" from the shoulder to the front hem.
