Gorgeous Original 1940s 40s Vintage Pale Blue Gabardine Dress

This stunning dress was made from duck egg blue gabardine in the 1940s. It was cut in a classic hourglass silhouette with padded shoulders and a nipped waist. The dress was designed in an easy to wear shirtwaister style that fastens down the length of the front with ten buttons. The sharp notched lapel collar highlights the strong shoulder line which is further emphasises with a shoulder yolk from which the back falls into dozens of voluminous pleats. This volume to the bodice, along with the large patch pockets at the bust, give the dress a delightfully casual styling. Delicate pleats bring the bodice into the fitted waist and the skirt features beautiful gored panel work which adds lovely movement and swish. 

Bust: 42”

Waist: 32”

Hips: 44”

Length: 44”

The dress is in good condition with a few marks, discolouration inside the collar, a small areas of roughness and a seam repair as pictured. One of the lower buttons is slightly mismatched but this is not very obvious and the shoulder pads are later replacements. 

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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.