Super Rare Original 1930s Vintage Periwinkle Lilac Dress And Coat Set With Puff Sleeves

This incredible dress set was made in the 1930s from rayon crepe in a wonderful shade of periwinkle meets lilac. The dress has been cut in the classic silhouette of the late 1930s with fabulous gathered puff sleeves and a nipped waist. The high collarless neckline emphasises the beautiful shoulder design and highlights the ten fabric covered buttons that run down the blousy cut bust. An unusually shaped waist yolk draws the eye to the wonderfully fitted waist. The waist yolk and the bust have been adorned with raised trapunto decoration in the shape of a stylised flower. The gored skirt adds beautiful movement to the dress and inside, there is a maker’s label for The Ideal Garment. The dress fastens with small poppers at the side and a decorative back belt adds a final design detail. 

The dress is accompanied by a matching coat, which compliments it perfectly. It was cut to follow the silhouette of the dress and skim the wearer’s body. Its shoulders have also been gathered but less severely so than the dress and the deep V neckline allows a peek of the beautiful dress buttons. Three matching fabric covered buttons fasten the coat at the waist and it falls open from there. The stunning trapunto quilting used on the dress has been mirrored on the bust and running all the way down the centre of the coat. 

Dress

Bust: 36”

Waist: 28”

Hips: 38”

Shoulders: 13” seam to seam 

Length: 41 1/2” plus 1” hem

Coat

Bust: 36”

Waist: 31”

Hips: 40”

Length: 40 1/2” plus 1” hem

The dress set is in good condition, however there are a number of faint marks as pictured as well as some loose stitching where the back belt attaches. There is some very slight colour fade to the back of the neckline on both pieces but this is only noticeable in certain light. 

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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.