wonderful pumpkin wool crepe vintage swing jacket and dress set
Im basically pricing this for the coat, and the dress is an added extra as I don’t want to split - but it has been altered and therefore of the two the coat is in much better condition.
A really wonderful shade of rich pumpkin fine wool crepe to both, edged with a contrasting chestnut brown textured trim. It’s an autumn/winter weight.
It's an interesting set, in that the jacket looks like a late 30s swagger style (possibly shortened during wartime or just post?), and the dress is clearly the original to the set but has been altered over the years.
My best guess is that this was a later 1930s outfit that has been modified over the succeeding decades to suit changing fashions.
The jacket is a flared back with gored panels creating a swing shape. No front fastening, an edge to edge late 30s style with contrasting shawl collar in chestnut.
The sleeves are heavily gathered at the sleeve head, and end with a slight elephant ear , again trimmed in contrasting chestnut. Fully liked in a very nice quality artificial? silk.
The dress features a fitted bodice, gently gathered onto the waist of a four panelled flared skirt. Piped chestnut trim on the bustling, and to the v neck. Bodice fully lined and skirt loose lined.
I’ve shown it with a belt just to demonstrate that it would look better with one! (Not included as wrong colour, just nearest I had).
Short sleeves have been altered seemingly having been vented along a top seam for approximately 4", perhaps to enlarge the hem or remove larger puffed sleeves?. Evidence of lining being restitched at shoulder line, and potentially? larger shoulder pads added.
Original opening I imagine was to the side seam, which has an earlier brass 'Ace' zip, but at a later date (1950s?) another metal zip has been inserted along the centre back for ease of access. Looks like belt loops have been removed but would look better belted - I added one for one photo just to demonstrate (not included).
Although the garment appears to have been altered by a home seamstress, it looks to have originally been commercially made. The hem has been overlocked later I imagine, so possibly originally longer. A mystery!
Aside from the various alterations it's in very good condition, particularly for a wool crepe - and a good wearable size too.
Measures: Approx a modern UK12 XS
Dress
Bust approx 38", with some stretch to 40”
Waist measures 30”
Hips 44” max
Length from nape to hem approx 46” (unsure if original hem dropped as no allowance.. but no line)
Jacket is fairly free sized in the bust as edge to edge
Nape to hem 25"
Sleeve crown to cuff 22"
Shoulder seam to seam 15" but quite a wide fit as sleeve heads form part of shoulder line.
Condition:
As mentioned above it is very good considering its age, but you just need to be aware it is not in its original state (alterations to dress described above)
Jacket - I found one small break in the weave to the right to hand bodice, toward the side seam. You could stitch from behind should you wish, if you unpicked armhole lining. Aside from that one faint spot left sleeve as shown.
Dress - I found one area of damage to back right shoulder, and small break in the weave to the back of one sleeve on the dress (photo). It's otherwise clean and ready to wear with only minimal small light marks. There is still some whiteness from deodorant? residue to satin lining but it’s not visible when worn.
