Vintage WWII Era Ivory Satin Wedding Gown with Slight Train - 
Handmade for a Body Shape with longer, thicker torso, slim hips 

I love vintage fashion!  It's getting harder and harder to find, and it isn't inexpensive anymore, but if I find something that grabs me at a reasonable price, I tend to take a chance on it for resell provided my hand doesn't go through it from rot, there is no mildew, and it doesn't smell like smoke or animals.  My hopes are that someone that loves vintage as much as I do can find a purpose for it..... whether it is to wear, recondition and resell in a shop, use the fabric from it, display it, use in theater, or to study it for design..... hopefully to carry on the rescue and keep it out of the landfill.  98% of the time dresses of this age need TLC repairs and mends and will have flaws and need some cleaning.  I purchased this wedding dress from an estate a few years ago and was told the bride was a WWII bride married in 1944, so that puts it at 80-years-old.  I've been hanging on to it to do a multiple wedding dress listing event with a lot to choose from, and now I have a lot and need the room so it is time to list!  This dress struck me because of the unique design put into the patterning to camouflage the bride's shape.  I recall the conversation with the daughter of the woman that wore it and she said her mom was a taller woman with a more boyish straight shape.....not a curvy, busty girl.  Looking at the patterning, that all made sense.  

This dress is an ivory satin that is a good medium to heavy weight.  Long sleeved, illusion neckline, dropped waist with slight train and ruched side panel insets.  The fabric is not sheer at all and it is heavy enough to provide good body to the gown.  There are no tulle layers or built-in under slip on this one.  The illusion open boatneck shaped neckline is round at the base of the neck and shows a lot of shoulder/ upper chest through it.  The long sleeves are shaped to fall slightly on top the hand and they close with same fabric covered buttons and loops, as does the entire center back.  A layer of scalloped lace was applied over the seam where the illusion yoke meets the gown body (I think this could easily be removed if a more clean look is desired).  On the sides, ruched insets were added to provide fullness and camouflage a thicker torso.  They gather join to a smooth center front panel that ends in a lower abdomen "V", and same to the rear bodice sides that have seaming for more shape in the back.  The dropped waistline was designed to accommodate a longer torso.  The entire bodice, assembled, is same fabric pipe trimmed where it joins to the gown skirting. The gown is shorter in the front and an additional foot of fabric was added to the back for a slight train.  

The dress has never been cleaned as far as I can tell.  I still wonder why someone goes to the time, trouble, and expense to get the perfect party or bridal gown, and then doesn't properly store or clean them after they are worn, but it is more often, than not, the norm.  This gown shows some pit marks that are more evident from the inside than the outside due to the thickness of the fabric.  There is also some scuff? marks near the rear hem that are barely noticed from the outside, but again, I could see them from the inside.  Sleeve edges are a little soiled.  I did not note any gross damage to the fabric, no holes or tears except a few very small less than pinhead sized prick holes in an area of the bodice netting on the back, and an area in the back where the lace has torn.  These can be mended without much trouble.  Even the netting is a heavier than usual fabric.  Much to my despair I have lost the only good dry cleaner in my area that really knew what he was doing when it came to vintage and antique clothing, so I seldom clean myself unless I have no choice.  This one is in good enough condition that I will leave any cleaning decisions to the buyer.  If you have a reliable, experience dry cleaner in your area, you may wish to get an opinion before you do anything to it yourself.     

I fit this dress on my junior size mannequin that has 30-26-32 measurements, and it was too big on her.  I had to clip the back to adjust the look for photographs in order to give you a better idea of the design and how it would look when fitted more properly.  My mannie doesn't have big enough breasts, and I should have stuffed for the dress but forgot, so just know there is room for a bust.....probably up to 36" up there.  While the dress is on the mannequin, I look for additional areas/spots that may need addressed and try to get photos to include, but I can 100% say that I didn't capture or find every tiny flaw as there are yards of fabric here and it's easy to miss the littles things.  This is an 80-year-old dress, so perfection is not to be expected.  I show the worst of what I find that are notable to me as I am working with it and displaying and include them for you to see.  This dress is a vintage size SMALL to MEDIUM and all the measurements I took follow below, and were taken on the outside of the garment.  If you are considering it for yourself to wear, please take your own measurements into account and add however much room you want for a fit comfortable to you.  

 
Measurements - taken with garment lying flat and on one side only unless otherwise noted: 


In final, this is a lovely 40's era wedding dress with minor TLC faults!  The fabric integrity seems to be good yet.  I would recommend further cleaning advice if you don't have any tricks of the trade yourself.  For display and study purposes, it has much to offer.   It is sold as is, no returns.  There is very little profit margin on dresses like this, so finding and spending all the time on them, and offering them is pretty much my personal labor of love.  Please message me if you have any questions and I will answer back..... even if I don't have an answer.  

Shipping:  USPS with tracking, insurance.  I gently fold/roll garments like this, wrap them with a covering of clean pattern tissue, then bag and box them for the best shipping safety.  I am happy to combine for shipping/postage savings if you request it from your cart before paying.  I can't combine if you pay for items separately.  I have to be able to send you a revised invoice that shows the newly figured postage costs per your zip code, and you pay from that invoice.  Questions on this, just message me. 

Thanks for Looking!