50s Women's Dress Dramatic Black & White Vintage Full Skirt Medium Fit and Flare VFG Pat Hartly
Sometimes, it's all there in black and white, and this gorgeous dress proves that old adage! This is vintage 1950s, with classic fit & flare. The fitted bodice is classic "bad girl", with dolman sleeves and pairs of vertical darting shaping the bust. The vee-neck is deeper in the front than in the back - it is structured with wide self-fabric edging. The four gore full-circle skirt sets into the waist using deep pleats.
SIZE: No size label. The bust measurement is somewhat flexible because it's knit
| Measurements | Inches | Cm |
| Bust | 38" | 96.5 |
| Waist | 27" | 68.5 |
| Hips | Free | Free |
| Bodice length from shoulder seam | 16.5" | 42 |
| Skirt length | 28" | 71 |
| Sweep | 96" | 244 |
FABRIC/COLORS: The bodice is a dense jersey knit, in inky black. Based on a fiber burn test, I think it's a wool blended with a bit of acetate. The skirt is creamy white, done in a heavy ribbed faille - burn test inconclusive, but definitely natural fiber - I lean toward rayon, possibly a blend.
TAGS: A Pat Hartly Original. If it was made between 1953 to 1955. it could be an early work from Luis Estevez - according to one source, he worked at Pat Hartly for 2 years right before starting Grenelle-Estevez in 1955.
CLOSURES: The bodice closes with a side seam metal zipper. There is a hook & eye plus a heavy snap at the waist, with a short open placket below. The dress has thread belt loops, and a self-fabric cream belt.
CONDITION: No stains, holes, tears or other issues noted.
I measure the outside of garments, unless stated otherwise.
For menswear, the chest is measured at armpit level.
For womenswear, the bust is measured a little below armpit level, including the room created by darts or gathers.
Waist will be measured if there is one, and hips are measured about 9" below waist level. Sleeves are measured from shoulder seam or an approximation in the absence of a shoulder seam. Garment length is measured from the back of the neck, unless otherwise stated.
The measurement numbers refer to the garment, not the body inside. For best fit, measure a similar type of garment which fits you well and compare.
If the garment is shown on Josephine, my mannequin, her measurements are 31/24.5/34". Sometimes she wears a padded bra. My live models measurements vary depending on the day and year, and I don't ask them to share that.