DRESS

Description: INNER BODICE AND SKIRT ARE PEACH. SKIRT IS MADE UP OF 2 LAYERS OF CHIFFON, AND IS FLARED. INNER BODICE IS MADE OF PEACH NYLON, COVERED BY A LAYER OF PEACH CHIFFON. INNER BODICE IS STRAPLESS AND SLEEVELESS; HAS CUPS FORMED INTO BODICE AT BREAST. INNER BODICE IS ATTACHED TO OUTER SKIRT AT WAIST LINE; HAS AN IVORY ZIPPER DOWN THE BACK WITH "TALON" ON IT. BODICE HAS STAYS SEWN INTO THE INSIDE, TO HELP KEEP IT STIFF. OUTER DRESS IS MADE OF ONE LAYER OF BLACK, TRANSPARENT, CHIFFON. DRESS IS MADE UP OF ALTERNATING HORIZONTAL STRIPS OF PLAIN FABRIC AND STRIPS WITH VERTICAL LINES, SEPARATED BY ROWS OF BLACK LACE. HAS SHORT SLEEVES AND FLARED SKIRT. HAS A BLACK ZIPPER AT CENTER BACK "TALON". ABOVE THIS THE DRESS IS OPEN, BUT HOOKS WITH AN EYE AT THE BACK OF NECKLINE. THERE IS ABOUT A 1 INCH HOLE ON BACK OF DRESS, AT THE SEAM WHERE TWO HORIZONTAL STRIPS MEET.

History: THIS TYPE OF DRESS WAS POPULARIZED IN THE 1950S AND WAS SUITABLE FOR FORMAL LATE AFTERNOON PARTIES. DONOR IS A HIGH SCHOOL PHYS. ED. TEACHER. SHE DID DRAMA IN SCHOOLS AND LOCAL THEATRE, AND ENTIRE COLLECTION WAS GIVEN TO HER BY LOCAL PEOPLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DONOR GAIL HOLLAND’S ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND GENERAL USE OF HER 1999-DONATED COLLECTION PLEASE REFER TO RECORD P19990053001. ***UPDATE: ARTIFACT INSIGHT BELOW SUBMITTED BY DONOR AND COLLECTIONS VOLUNTEER GAIL HOLLAND ON 19 APRIL 2011. “COCKTAIL DRESS NOT USED IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION, BUT SERVED AS A REFERENCE ITEM FOR POSSIBLE COSTUME REPRODUCTION PURPOSES.”