evening 1940s cocktail dress Late 1940s, Early 1950s Strapless Red Silk Satin Full Skirt Dress w Rh – Shrimpton Couture

evening 1940s cocktail dress Late 1940s, Early 1950s Strapless Red Silk Satin Full Skirt Dress w Rh – Shrimpton CoutureThe three dresses I have for you today are more from that same single owner collection that I recently did two capsules from. Her collection was lovingly sourced over decades and she has decided that it is time let them back out into the world for others to enjoy. The first two drops centered around the 1930s but we have expanded into her collection to add some other decades this time as well. Outstanding designs from these eras are increasingly hard

The three dresses I have for you today are more from that same single owner collection that I recently did two capsules from. Her collection was lovingly sourced over decades and she has decided that it is time let them back out into the world for others to enjoy. The first two drops centered around the 1930s but we have expanded into her collection to add some other decades this time as well. Outstanding designs from these eras are increasingly hard to find. Her collection represents some of the best of the era that I have seen in a very long time. Most are in excellent condition and the few included that do have some flaws are such outstanding designs that I feel there is still room for someone to love them and wear them as they are, or perhaps to put in the additional work to repair them.

This dress is from the late 1940s early 1950s and is made from a stunning deep ruby red silk. The design is outstanding and harkens back to some of the best looks that designers were doing during this time period. The silk fabric choice keeps the dress light and easy to wear while still holding the lines and volume of the dress. The dress is strapless and the bodice is fitted with light internal boning built in for structure and to hold the dress in place around you. The bust is shaped through seaming and the bodice is cut to curve around you and then it nips in just under the bust. That point under the bust is highlighted further buy a band of the same silk that wraps all the way around you. A flat bow sits at the center of the front and then that is highlighted by an incredible rhinestone piece that is actually set on a curve to wrap over the center of the bow. The skirt falls from under that point and it is fantastic. I photoed it without anything underneath so you can see how it falls on its own. If you wanted to add a crinoline underneath you could make it incredibly full from here. The skirt is all pieced together with long panels of red silk that start at that point under the bust and then widen out as they near the hem to get the volume that you see. At the back it dips down to a slightly lower seam and the silk is all gathered into that so that the volume is greater there. It is a gorgeous dress and such a rarity to find such a spectacular sample from this time period anymore. Excellent condition with a note to review below

The dress is fully lined in a matching silk organza. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. Built in boning through the bodice. There are large silver snaps set inside the bodice that I think someone added at a later date to hold some kind of undergarment in place. I've left them as to not damage the silk lining underneath. There are two spots on the silk that did not budge with cleaning. Fortunately they fall inside a fold so when the dress is on you do not see them. You can see in the full length shots that you can't see it at all but when you spread the silk out flat they are there.

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam with up to about an B-C cup of added room at the front
Band under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Natural waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 43" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# PS026

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.