1930s Autumnal Velvet from Indiana University
I have long thought browns don't get any respect and this delightful printed velvet dress confirmed my belief that they deserve a lot. This is a soft silk and/or rayon velvet printed in brown, orange and tan which was then trimmed in brown velvet and gold metal for the tie and the belt. The pictures do not do it justice as it simply glows with color because of the nature of velvet which catches the light so beautifully. I would happily wear it come fall.
The collar and tie are one of the many clever necklines invented during the 1930s. This one has tunnels around the sides of the neck to hold the tie which is then tacked at the back and shaped into a bow in the front with the help of the metal piece. The bow is large and shaped and stiffened with some kind of interfacing inside. The waistline returned to its normal spot by the mid-1930s and hemlines dropped to lower calf, but skirts always had some kind of flare below the knee whether from a pleat, a godet or the cut of several gored panels. There was always a little flirty swing as a woman walked, and in velvet, the skirt would catch the light in a playful way. You can see how the bodice is shaped with a piece that comes up from the waistline in a soft curve and then gathers above to shape the bustline. It has long sleeves gathered at the cuffs, and a long shaped skirt.
Being in velvet, which is a delicate fabric despite its thickness, this is a dressy daytime outfit, something for a luncheon or a tea or an afternoon concert. The colors make me think of fall, and back to school events. Which makes this a good time to share it, I thought.
I had the pleasure of seeing highlights of the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection, Indiana University at Bloomington in the company of the Curator/Director Kelly Richardson. This collection is part of the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design about which you can find more here: https://eskenazi.indiana.edu/index.html
