Clothing - AILEEN AND JOHN ELLISON COLLECTION: FULL LENGTH SLEEVELESS DIAMANTE DRESS, 1950s

Physical description

Full length sleeveless dress of dark blue fabric with light blue all over embossed floral pattern. Front of bodice made from one piece with two darts from the waist. Back same as above. Square neckline formed by pleated section of fabric (upward facing knife pleats) across the front. The pleating continues on the shoulder panels at the front. 13cm wide at shoulders. The shoulder pieces continue to attach at the back bodice but widen to form a rounded collar effect on either side. At centre back where collar joins, a folded piece of fabric is attached to form two tails of a bow falling past the waist (39cm). A decorative metal clasp with three rows of diamantes is attached at the top of the bow, 7cm below the neckline. On the front bodice there are two decorative rows of diamantes below the shoulders where the shoulder piece joins the pleated section across the front. Front and back bodice dip slightly at centre. Side opening on LHS with 36cm metal zipper from armhole. Hook and eye at top. Fabric piping around waistline front and back. Skirt made of four pieces. Centre and side seams. Gathered into waist (bodice) with series of small pleats random (uneven) knife and box flat seams. Large stitches visible on front of bodice where pleated section is visible. 2cm wide strips of elastic hand stitched inside each shoulder section, attaching front and backs of bodice. Check collar attached.

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