Sunday, February 24, 2008

27 Vintage Dresses of February #22

One shoulder looks and floral prints are hot for spring. This 1950's evening gown proves that some styles are timeless. It's available from VFG member Vintage-a-peel.

Before World War II, Horrockses manufactured printed cottons for the thriving home dressmaking industry. In the 1950s, with a demand for affordable ready-to-wear pieces in the wake of Dior's New Look, they started producing their own collections of daydresses, eveningwear and beachwear. In the era of rationing, cotton was cheap, durable and easy to work with.

This piece is a delightful example of their superb work and would be a terrific addition to any comprehensive collection. Horrockses really were the pioneers of cotton as an evening fabric, and the full length gowns - such as this - are extremely rare. I love the extraordinary feature of the single shoulder strap, met with a bow in the back and attached to an integral drape up from the skirt.