Very early and rare Edith Small dress that I† would guess is from some of her very early years - mid to late 1940s. It has a bit of extra interest in that is also has a Western Costume Company tag so the possibility of it having appeared on film at some point are very high! If we only knew on who! The dress is wonderfully made and a testament to her skills as a dressmaker. Edith Small was perhaps not as well known as some of her contemporaries of the day but she produced well made pieces and used high end fabrics and liked to work in difficult fabrics. Like the fine silk netting and lace that this is made of! The skirt is constructed from a bias cut, fine woven silk crepe and has a faux sarong look with one side swept up into a knot. The waist is dropped and the illusion is that the front plunges almost to the waist. This is done cleverly by a nude backing behind the silk crepe. Over both those layers is a layer of fine silk net with tiny dots worked into the fabric. The neckline is discreetly beaded and each shoulder has a lattice work pattern in gold metallic thread. Very sexy in a film noir femme fatale kind of way! Excellent condition
Shoulder: no defined seams
Bust: 17.5î flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-13î flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19" from shoulder to dropped waist
Skirt: 32" from dropped waist to hem
The top is backed in a nude netting and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. There is one tiny break in the netting at the back that I had a stitch out in to stabilize. Also the chiffon under the metallic detail on the shoulders is shattering and almost gone on one side. I have left it as original - it could be removed altogether to let the top of the shoulder peek through the metallic lattice work there or replaced - an easy job. Very minor and these do not detract.
Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML (4-6)
Item# DD1042
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival
