Vintage 1940s dolls dress
Four or five years ago I came across a battered little suitcase in a charity shop. When I opened it, I found it was overflowing with the most beautiful collection of dolls' clothes. They were all painstakingly hand stitched in jewel-coloured satins, and intricately decorated with tiny pearl beads and glittering sequins. From the style of the dresses, and the age of the fabrics, I'd guess they date from the late forties, early fifties. I don't know who they belonged to, but I like to think they were the much loved property of Ivy Wilkes, who's name is pencilled into the lid of the child's suitcase.....
Treasure chest
I somehow managed to misplace this little treasure chest shortly after acquiring it, and only rediscovered it when I moved studio recently.....tucked away at the back of a storage cupboard.
I thought it was high time I did a little restoration work, and decided at the same time to photograph the haute couture modes in all their vintage gorgeousness.
But who to model? There was no doll in the suitcase, and the dresses are a little too large for that modern minx Barbie, with her unfeasibly waspish waist. Fortunately the lovely Belle was able to help out....and very lovely she looks too. A little pinning was required, but I think she carries them off admirably.
I'd love to know which one is your favourite?
I thought it was high time I did a little restoration work, and decided at the same time to photograph the haute couture modes in all their vintage gorgeousness.
But who to model? There was no doll in the suitcase, and the dresses are a little too large for that modern minx Barbie, with her unfeasibly waspish waist. Fortunately the lovely Belle was able to help out....and very lovely she looks too. A little pinning was required, but I think she carries them off admirably.
I'd love to know which one is your favourite?
Pale green beaded vintage doll's ball gown
Blue satin vintage 1940s doll's evening dress
Pink lace vintage doll's evening dress
Pale pink silk jersey vintage doll's 1930s dress
Vintage 1930s fashion doll's dress and cloak
Lemon yellow satin vintage 1940s doll's ball gown
Pale yellow satin and gold lace vintage doll's opera coat
Pale pink satin and sequin 1940s doll's ball gown
Gold satin 1940s doll's evening dress and sequin gilet
Sky blue satin 1950s doll's ball gown
Pink satin vintage doll's evening dress
Also in the suitcase was a little leather pouch, stuffed full of Ivy's collection of bead and diamonte treasures, ready to be carefully stitched onto her latest design.....
What a wonderful find! I love things like that, imagining the joy Ivy had from these and the making of them - the detail on such tiny items! The 2nd, 4th and 8th dresses are my favs, the 4th one in particular, the gold and pearl with the cloak is fit for royalty! Gorgeous! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey-Marie....I love the one with the matching cloak to :). It's so rare that I get to wear a floor length cape these days *sigh*
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky girl she was! I love the pink bolero/ballgown combination, such lovely designs and details!x
ReplyDeleteThat is a beauty Jade....it reminds me of the work of '40s couturier Charles James :)
ReplyDeleteCharles James! That name just brought back a lovely memory - about 12/13 years ago whilst at the V&A researching for my Art A Level coursework in haute couture, I was stood in front of a Charles James garment and a woman started to talk to me, asking me what I was studying etc...it turned out that she once worked as a seamstress for Charles James! I seem to remember her explaining that he wasn't the best business man, but was an amazing couturier who just knew how to sculpt and construct fabric on the female form and make it look stunning, he was a perfectionist! *Sigh* too! : ) x
ReplyDeleteOh that's lovely Stacey-Marie! I love the pictures of all those elegant models gathered in some grand ballroom wearing his swathes of silk duchesse satin and taffeta, looking like a bowl of beautiful roses.....
ReplyDeletei like the blue one :) x
ReplyDeleteMe too.....love the cut of the bodice on that one.....keep meaning to cut a full size version when I get time! :)
DeleteI love the pink dress with the cloak. The beading around the neckline and then down the front of the dress give it such a nice long line. If only Barbie had such pretty things for our little girls to play with, wouldn't that be great?
ReplyDeleteThe pink ensemble is particularly elegant.......it's in a silky soft jersey fabric,so hangs beautifully......an Oscars outfit if ever I saw one! :)
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