This exquisite 1920s dress is made from a mix of an actual metallic gold thread has been woven together with a deep burgundy coloured silk. These early lame's were mainly being made in France and were extremely expensive to make because of the gold thread. You just do not see its equivalent in modern fabric ever which makes these early piece that much more coveted. To give you an idea of value, pieces made from this gold lame were often in and around the $100 mark or more and in the 1920s you could buy a car for $600 dollars. This one dates to the late twenties and you can see the influence of the 1930s in its design. Women were still wearing very little under their garments at this period of time and this dress simply drapes over the body and is extremely sensual in feel. It is so hard to find pieces at this level from this period anymore and this one is extraordinary.

The mix of a the deep burgundy and the gold is very beautiful. When you see the dress in person the gold is the more predominant colour and the entire dress shimmers in the light. There is a floral pattern that is worked through the silk and this runs over the dress from shoulder to hem. The cut is kept simple and reflects the time period perfectly. Wide straps extend out from the halter cut of the bodice and curve over the shoulders and down the low cut back. The front dips into a deep plunge. It crosses over itself slightly where it meets the waist so that it stays in place when you have it on. At the back it dips just as low and ends in a pretty curve at the base of the plunge. From just under the bust to the top of the hips the fabric is gathered and wrapped around to follow the curve of the body. The gathers meet down the centre on both sides in an elaborate panel made of the same fabric. The panel is set into the dress and has been gathered with ruching so that it catches the light differently and creates a bit of a break in the design. Below this the skirt falls to the floor in a series of soft pleats that wrap all the way around the hips. It curves up in a slit at the front so that you get a bit of leg showing when you move. The dress is entirely cut on the bias and drapes beautifully once on the body. The lightness and fluidity of the fabric make it move around you like liquid. It is a remarkable example of the work being done during this time period. The colour is still vivid and the fabric is strong & wearable. The part I love the best - because the gold thread is actual metal when you first put the dress on it is cool to the touch and then it warms to your body temperature as you wear it. Remarkable. Excellent condition with a note below

Unlined and slips on to wear with a row of hand set snaps down the side to close it. Hand finishes throughout. There are a couple of small areas of darkening to the lame and I have photos the darkest spot. This is a natural occurrence to this type of fabric as the metal oxides over time. I do not consider this to be a flaw and any tiny areas only add to the patina of this outstanding dress. There is a small area of thinning of the fabric in the skirt that is just off from the side the front middle seam. It appears stable and I chose to leave it as it gets lost in the folds once the dress is on. There is a small repair to the hem of the skirt. Please review the last three photos provided. The fabric does have some stretch since it is all cut on the bias but the under bust measurement is fixed with no give.

Bust: 14-18" flat across from side seam to side seam

Seam under bust: 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam just above hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under the lowest seam: open
Bodice: 13" from top of shoulder to the seam under the bust, approx 23" from shoulder to seam just above the hips
Length: 60" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# E655

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.