#7068 $950
Black silk lace dress, 1930s
Black lace, long associated with romance and intrigue, is a perennial favorite, perhaps because of its seductive allure. This beauty features bold black roses embroidered on a delicate ground of net and leaves. Black remains the essential color of fashion.
The long straight torso of the dress is broken at the waist with an attached peplum, which is fuller in back, and above the knee with a bias-cut flared skirt. The dress closes on the side with a waistline hook and snaps.
The rounded neckline plunges dramatically low in back. The neckline and armholes are finished with narrow black silk binding. The dress is sheer and will need a slip. A black slip will make the look more sophisticated; a light slip will emphasize the pattern of the lace.
Our wonder at the amazing verisimilitude (normally seen only in fine art) of the roses and leaves certifies the design as a true marriage of nature and art. The roses' ineffable beauty testifies to the power of nature to inspire art, whether in clothing or in Shelley's poetry:
Like a rose embowered
In its own green leaves...
Sound of vernal showers
On the twinkling grass,
Rain-awaken'd flowers
The condition is almost excellent. The back neckline has been repaired with a lace flower appliqué, which does not spoil the appearance of the dress.
It measures: 38" bust, 33" waist, 40" hip, 16" from the shoulder to the waist, and 55" from the shoulder to the hem.
