Late 1940s Merlot Ribbon Knit Dress and Jacket Ensemble - New!
Measurements
Size: Small for best fit although this is a lot of stretch
Dress
Bust: 32 - 36 inches + 81 - 92 cm
Waist: 24 - 30 inches + 61 - 76 cm
Hips: 38 - 42 Inches + 96 - 107 cm
Bodice Length from Outside Shoulder to Natural Waist: 16 inches + 41 cm
Total Length from Outside Shoulder: 46 inches + 117 cm
Jacket
Bust: 34 - 38 inches + 86 - 96.5 cm
Waist: 28 - 30 inches + 71 - 76 cm
Jacket Length: 15.5 inches + 40 cm
Sleeve Length: 18 inches + 46 cm
Note: Measurements are taken from outside, flat and stretched from seam to seam. This is the maximum size allowable, so please consider individual fit and comfort.
Description
* 1940s commercially made dress and jacket ensemble
* Merlot coloured ribbon pearl/plain knit
* Classic silhouette with a fitted waist and straight skirt
* Dress has a wide oval neckline and short sleeves
* The neckline and sleeve edges are decorated with soutache ribbon trim
* Two cutouts bordered by soutache ribbon on each side of centre front neckline
* Skirt widens gently as it approaches hemline
* Dress is darted at waist and has centre darts that open under the waist
* Self fabric belt and long metal zipper at back
* Jacket has a turned over collar and ¾ sleeves
* Similar soutache work applied to the collar and cuffs
* Back with metal zipper
* Unlined with hand finished hem
* Saks 5th Avenue label
Saks Fifth Avenue was started as a joint venture between two of the largest retail establishments in New York City – Saks and Co. and Gimbels. The store was opened in 1924, and from the beginning it offered the highest quality clothing for men and women. Originally the store was supervised by Horace Saks but after his death in 1926 Adam Gimbel was made president of the company. He headed Saks until 1969.
By 1931, the in-house designer was Sophie Gimbel, Adam Gimbel’s wife. She designed under the label Sophie Originals. Saks’ high-end department, Salon Moderne, carried Sophie’s in-house designs as well as fashions from Paris by Louiseboulanger, Chanel, Vionnet, Patou, Schiaperelli, Agnes, Reboux and Callot Soeurs.
In the 1970s, the couture and custom salons were closed, as well as the millinery departments. Saks stores were built across the country, but without the level of customer service that had been available at the New York store during the Adam Gimbel days. In 1998, Saks merged with Proffitt’s department store chain. (curtesy of the Vintage Fashion Guild)
Condition
Excellent vintage condition.
No notable flaws that I can see, it is in great condition for its age.
Please note that these are vintage items that have been used and loved over the years, As such, they may display slight evidence of their age. Any notable flaws above and beyond this will be highlighted here.
Comment
Fabulous detail on this sophisticated and high=quality dress. Not only does it look spectacular but it's so comfortable to wear. Please drop us a line if you require additional information about this listing.
Shop Policies
COVID-19
Unfortunately, the pandemic has resulted in a backlog of parcels worldwide. Our local Postal Service continues to operate at increased capacity and assures us that packages will arrive at their destination, albeit with a noticeably longer timeframe.
We now offer an alternate express delivery service via DHL for those of you who want your packages more expediently. This option is currently delivering packages within a seven-day timeframe from pick-up.
Availability
This item is within our selling stock. In the unlikely event that two buyers purchase this item concurrently, payment will be immediately refunded to the latter purchaser. We apologise in advance should this rare circumstance arise.
Postage
We make every effort to post your item within 1-3 days of payment. Should a circumstance arise where we are unable to post within this timeframe (eg we are away at a fair) we will contact you immediately. Please note that our postage charges are based on standard international and domestic air packages - all with tracking. If you want to upgrade to express postage or require insurance, please contact us prior to checkout and we will adjust the rates accordingly.
LayBys/Layaways
Yes we do offer flexible layby/layaway options and are open to negotiation as to the time period. Obviously, the more expensive the item the longer the time you will have to finalise payment. Contact us to see how accommodating we can be :)
Alterations
Obviously, as these are one-off pieces, the fit may not be quite what you need. To this end, we also offer an alteration service by professional seamstresses. Please shoot us an email outlining what you want and we will quickly respond with a quote and timeframe. Costs are kept to a minimum for this service.
Special Orders
If you are looking for something that you don't currently find in our shop - let us know we may be able to help you with a special listing!
Photography
Our photos are taken with a mix of studio and ambient lighting. Whilst we take care with the colour balance of our photos, individual computer monitors register colours differently depending on their calibration. If you want the exact colour shade drop us a line and we will give you the Universal Pantone colours that match the item.