Not just another black dress! This 1920s beaded dress is divine, and in great condition too.
The outer dress is made from black silk chiffon and it is beaded with clear glass beads. The fabric is lightly gathered around the yolk and the dress has long sleeves with deep cuffs.
There is a drop waist band which should sit fairly snug on the upper hips so that above this the bodice forms a blouson shape.
The hemline of the dress is cut so that there is a central dip front and back. This is such a simple detail, and yet the effect is quite striking.
There are no fastenings on the outer dress so it was fairly snug as I eased it over the shoulders. The inner dress does have snap fastenings. It is a bit fiddly to get on as the two parts are joined, but once you get the knack you’ll be fine.
Condition is very good and the dress presents as pretty much perfect.
99% of the beading is intact, to be honest there are just a couple of beads missing that I can see throughout and a line missing at the bottom (pictured). I only found this upon inspection.
There are some pin holes on the upper back (pictured) and a slightly larger one further down (pictured), this is still very tiny and invisible when worn due to the lining beneath.
One of the sleeves has a few pin holes and a small repair (pictured).
There is a spot of fray along the hem edge and a repair which again, is only visible upon inspection. It is well sewn and patched from behind with chiffon.
Shown here on a 33.5-25-33.1 inches and that is a good fit. The hips could be a little larger as on this size the fit isn’t particularly blousy at the back. There are no side openings, so you must be able to wiggle the drop waist over your shoulders and bust as is.
I would suggest 36 bust and hips is the absolute max so that there is enough loose fabric to blouson in the bodice.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN LAID FLAT
20 inches pit to pit
16 inches across the drop waist
21 inches across the hips
20 inches shoulder to drop waist (sits higher than this when worn as the bodice should blouson above it)
22.5 inches drop waist to hem
15 inches across the shoulders