Pale Green Cocktail Dress with Appliques

Dress
1950-1959
Blue; Green
Synthetic blend
36 in. (bust), 26 in. (waist), 38 in. (hips)
Designed by Shannon Rodgers
2013.12

This pale green women’s cocktail dress is made of synthetic slubbed fabric and decorated with cream and green floral sheer appliques placed on the left side of the bodice and at the high hip. There are additional appliques at the hem of the overskirt, which also features a bow made from the same fabric as the dress. The front square neckline is scooped in the back with a lapped metal zipper center-back for a closure. Constructed with darts at the bust, waist, and neckline, the bodice is close fitted and joined at the waist to a simple darted skirt. There is a front asymmetrical overskirt panel constructed with slightly more flare than the underskirt, one side front dart at the waist on each side, and resolves at the side seams of the skirt. The label inside the zipper, “Designed by Shannon Rodgers,” suggests that this dress dates to the decade of the 1950s.

-Gross

References

“Designer Archives | Kent State University.” n.d. www.kent.edu. https://www.kent.edu/museum/designer-archives.

“Vintage Fashion Guild: Label Resource: Rodgers, Shannon.” n.d. Vintagefashionguild.org. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/rodgers-shannon/.

Warp fibers at 10x

The smooth sides and lack of twists identify the fiber as a synthetic.

Warp fibers at 40x

The smooth sides and lack of twists identify the fiber as a synthetic.