Late 1950s to Early 1960s Red Camellias Cotton Dress- NEW!
Measurements
Size: Small
Dress
Bust: 34 - 36 inches + 86 - 91 cm
Waist: 26 - 29 inches + 66 - 74 cm (Hard to measure as it is a wrap-around)
Hips: Open
Bodice Length from Outside Shoulder: 15 inches + 38 cm
Total Length from Outside Shoulder: 41 inches + 104 cm
Hem Length: 1 inch + 2.5 cm
Seam Allowance: 0.5 inch + 1.25 cm (per side)
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
* Late 1950s to early 1960s commercially made dress
* Fabric design features bright red camellias with green leaves on a black background
* Classic silhouette with a defined waist and full skirt
* The dress is a wrap-around, pinafore-style dress
* Bodice is sleeveless with a jewel neckline
* Dress is completely open with only a button at the back neckline for closure
* Skirt is lightly gathered at waist
* Dress has contrasting red and green piping for belt
* Two set-in seam pockets
* Hand-sewn hem
* Label reads Swirl
The company, Nachman and Son, set up business in 1904 manufacturing women's clothing and by 1940 they were making a product called the 'Neat ‘N Tidy' - a pinafore apron. In 1944. the Swirl dress and label were born. Not really a housedress, it was actually a notch above providing a quick and easy way for a busy housewife to get dressed in a hurry for a trip to the market, or for unexpected visitors. As their slogan put it, Swirl was…”YOUR WRAP “N” TIE FASHION”. The novel concept quickly caught on, even appearing on characters in TV shows like "I Love Lucy". By 1955, the company was known exclusively as Swirl, Inc.
At the same time, the product line was expanded. Swirls were made in hundreds of different fabrics and were decorated with embroidery, applique, lace, piping, rick-rack, and various trims. The basic shape of the dress was always the same, with a bodice and sleeves cut in one piece and a full, usually gathered, skirt. They used a signature “Swirl” button at the back of the neck.
This continued through to the 1970s when the company moved on to other products including loungewear, nightwear and the Models Coat. I believe the company still produces these lines today. (Information courtesy of the Vintage Traveller and Swirl.com).
Condition
Excellent vintage condition.
No notable flaws that I can see.
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 will be highlighted.
Comment
Great example of the Swirl wrap-around dress with a fabulous print.
The listing is for the dress only and does not include any other accessories that may have been photographed with the item.
This item has not been pinned to the dress form.
Shop Policies
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.
Currently, standard packages within Australia take 4 to 6 business days from receipt of the package at the Post Office. However, there may be exceptions due to the impact of COVID-19. Overseas packages take between 7 to 10 days.
We also offer expedited DHL shipping which provides a fast and reliable shipping option if you prefer quick receipt of your item.
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 apologize in advance should this rare circumstance arise.
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.