LAYAWAY PAYMENT 1 OF 2 - RESERVED FOR CLAIRE - Original 1940s 40s Mustard Yellow Vintage Suit Project Piece

RESERVED ON LAYAWAY FOR CLAIRE - PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE - LAYAWAY PAYMENT 1 OF 2 due 20th December 2021

This suit was made in the 1940s from mustard yellow wool gabardine. It was cut to the classic silhouette of the period with strong padded shoulders and a nipped waist. The collarless design emphasises the strong shoulder line even further and there are two semicircular accent tabs, one at the right shoulder and one at the left hip with delicate channel stitching surrounding them and a diamanté adornment. The turn up cuffs finish off the sleeves and the hem has been reinforced fur a peplum effect. The inside is lined in yellow crepe with a maker’s label for Crestview, the Forstmann wool label and a retailer’s label for Dunlap Clothes Shop Cincinnati. The matching skirt has a large bustle vent at the back with arrow stitching above and fastens with an original metal side zipper and button above.

However this is very much a project piece. Whilst it could be worn as is, this could do with substantial repair and has been priced accordingly. A large panel of yellow and gold brocade has been added to the left side of the bodice. It could have been as a design update but considering the overall condition of the piece, we think it was more likely added to replace some damage either from moth holes or marks. Whilst the panel has been reasonably well constructed, it is not very in keeping with the period and style of the suit. Personally, we would remove it and replace it with a plain gabardine panel in brown or black perhaps for a colour block look. 

We have to stress that we do not know what you may find below the panel as we have not attempted to remove it but please bear in mind that it could be quite bad. The lining is attached at the bottom but if you look carefully at the picture of the lining with the labels on, you can see a large square shadow that may indicate that a whole square of fabric is missing. However when trying to feel the gabardine through the lining, this is not noticeable by touch. 

There are also a number of marks and a few smaller moth chews elsewhere, so the suit would benefit from repair, dry cleaning and/or soaking to see whether these will lift. There is also a large crudely attached patch to the inside lapel and the lining is discoloured as pictured. 

The skirt is in significantly better condition with only a few marks so worst case could be worn on its own.

Jacket

Bust: 36”

Waist: 29”

Shoulders: 15” seam to seam 

Skirt

Waist: 26”

Hips: 40”

Length: 30”

4277