1930s Red Lace Evening Dress

This elegant evening gown of the 1930s consists of two pieces: an outer gown and a matching slip. The outer layer is a sleeveless scarlet lace dress, made of rayon or cotton lace with schiffli embroidery. (See analysis of "Yellow-Green Crepe with Metallic Embroidery.") The lace has a flower design with a vertical repeat all over the dress.

The dress has a scoop neckline with a short sailor-like collar attached to the front. The neckline in the back is lower than the front and also forms a U-shape. There is a four-inch train, and a seam at the waistline which connects the bodice to the skirt. The cut of the skirt includes two princess seams that curve towards the side seam at the knee. These seams continue through the back of the skirt, to meet at center back.

The slip is made of taffeta and is a bit longer than the overdress due to a strip of 5" wide lace sewn all around the bottom hem. The slip has very thin ribbon-like straps, and princess seams to shape the bodice. The front neckline of the slip is heart-shaped and the back neckline is V-shaped. The slip was also pieced together in the same places at the bottom as the overdress. The slip is cut straight and does not have a train in the back like the overdress.

Project by Courtney Williams
Professor: Kathryn Rohe
Spring, 1998