Featured Silk & lace baby christening dress ?

Hi folks

Found this in charity shop fancy dress section

Thought it was sweet, looks quite nicely made

I think silk

Baby's christening dress ?

Was wondering the age of it, antique ?

There was a shawl ? That came with it

Any thoughts appreciated

It's not floating !

 

@NorthernLightsLodge .The lace looks machine-made to me, but I know little about it.

 

@Northern Lights Lodge

 

Does look like could be a christening outfit. With what appears to be machine lace. Two pieces don't match. And not an expensive set. Sure it's silk? (Has a bit more body than I'd expect.) From button, not terribly, terribly old.

Debora

 

Hi Charlie!
Tis the season of the witch! It does indeed look like it is floating!

What a charming set!
Yes, @Darkwing Manor is correct! It is machine made lace. Kudo's Darkwing!

Very pleasing and very interesting design (with those little insets that look like Chinese characters!) and it looks like it may have some synthetic fiber in it as it picks up a bit of sparkle.

Yes, probably a baby's christening or baptismal gown. By the sheen on the dress fabric and the sheerness... is it silk? I "feel" like it is...

The puff sleeves and sparkle in the lace lead me to believe it is circa 1950's. Earlier christening/ baptismal gowns, even if they were short sleeve, tended to be "straight" and not puffy. Mother of Pearl buttons ? If so, the gown "may" be a bit older....plastic, definitely 1950's.

As for the shawl item: also machine and it also has a sheen on the embroidery - so probably has some synthetic fiber - rayon perhaps. The netting looks to be cotton?

You don't give the measurements; but, it seems a little small for a bridal veil or adult bridal veil and a little large for a Sunday morning church service head cover... perhaps it was a child's confirmation veil. I don't feel like it went with the gown; although someone may have used it with it. Also circa 1950.

Well, there is my 2 cents!
Enjoy it... great pieces!
Leslie

 

Thanks deb

Not 100% sure it's silk, but does look sooooooooo

Was only cheap anywayz

I had to tell the girl behind the counter, just to let you know I'm not weird, I sell things on the internet

 

What a marvellous 2 cents worth it was, thank you Leslie

 

My pleasure @charlie cheswick
Leslie

 

I was thinking 1950s too. The puff sleeves, the plastic button, the synthetic fiber...

Debora

 

What a marvellous 2 cents worth it was, thank you Leslie, I mean deb

 

Thank you to Leslie. I read her knowledgable post with great interest.

Debora

 

Charlie, silk has a slight grab (for lack of a better term - it’s early here) against your skin when pulled between thumb & index finger. Next shopping trip, look for something labeled 100% silk and try that little trick and you’ll see what I mean.

The fabric of the gown looks a little like cotton batiste, which sometimes has a bit of sheen - are the pics true to life (beyond the ghostly floating illusion) or does your lighting enhance the sheen?

As an aside, I’ve bought second hand clothing for all ages and genders for so long & hardly ever get any side eye...but then I’m pretty weird in general, so my intended use of a frock is usually overlooked.

Google ‘fabric burn test’ if you want to determine actual content. You only need a few bits of thread from an interior seam... put threads in a clean ashtray or saucer, burn it, and the scent/ash will tell the tale.

 

It's an undergown, rather than a full christening robe. I still have my own, exquisitely hand made by my very talented couture trained grandmother. It has a fine as spider web hand knitted over gown, single ply softest wool you ever felt. I'd think 50s.

That's a communion or confirmation veil, commercially made. I'd think sixties.

 

Great info, thanks obb

 

Hi rufus, yeah it does have a natural sheen, that's what made me buy it thinking it was silk

there was a single loose thread that I cut off (not stitching thread) from the actual dress I tested

And it's definitely a natural fibre, so maybe cotton or wool like obb suggested

 

heres the sheen in natural light, and a close up with flash

 

Natural fiber will smell like burning hair. The ash left should become a powdery sort of nothing, like cigarette ash but more fine.

Synthetics (even a blend) will leave a hard black or grey bead behind.

Here’s the chart I use. Those who dislike links, search Ditsy Print’s Fiber Burn Chart or visit ditsyprints.com

https://www.ditzyprints.com/dpburnchart.html

 

Certainly looks synthetic to my eye. If a natural fiber, I'd expect a cotton lawn.

Debora

 

There was a kind of rayon lawn, quite stiff, used here in the 50s. Often for petticoats.