Original Late 1940s 40s Vintage Grey New Look suit by Nancy Wheeling

This gorgeous suit was made from a lightweight wool silk blend in the late 1940s. It is cut in the classic New Look style with padded shoulders, a nipped waist and a large flared skirt. The short blazer features a small rounded collar and fastens with six fabric covered buttons. Decorative fabric triangles are adorned with diamanté embellishments and emphasise the finely tailored seam work of the jacket. Inside, the blazer is lined in rayon and has a maker’s label for Nancy Wheeling Sportswear. The matching skirt features classic New Look styling with its longer length and large flared design. Mock tiering adds a lovely detail and the skirt fastens with an original metal side zipper and double button fastening above. 

Jacket

Bust: 36”

Waist: 29”

Shoulders: 15” seam to seam 

Skirt

Waist: 25”

Hips: 45”

Length: 30”

The suit is in good condition with a few faint marks and some seam strain as pictured. The jacket hem would benefit from professional pressing to flatten it.

This garment is available to purchase with or without dress shields. These clever little contraptions have been made by our seamstress to an original 1940s pattern and can be simply attached to your garment by tack stitching at the corners of the underarm seam, pinning (we wouldn’t recommend that, it hurts if it goes wrong, so if you try this, it is at your own risk only) or inserting tiny poppers. They then stand ready to absorb any sweat and body odours as needed and you can simply detach and launder them instead of your garment, saving you a fortune in dry cleaning bills.

They are equally suitable for suits, blazers and dresses and come in two different options:

1. Pure cream cotton for your heavier weight dresses, blazers and suits

or

2. White cotton muslin for lightweight summer dresses (so they don’t show through the fabric)

They are universally sized and super easy to use even for a sewing novice as only a couple of tiny stitches are required at each side to secure them.

We sell Dress Shields as a standalone item or at a discount if you purchase them with a garment. We will select the appropriate type to match the garment you have purchased.

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