I took the gown to my jewelry class for my teacher to identify the type of
beads. She said all of them are glass. The three stands of gold bugle
beads are unusual. They are gold in the middle and brown on the edges.
I have thought about the gown's date all day. When I was teaching at VCU,
there were a lot of beaded dresses in two decades, the early 1960s and
1980s. The 80s would work with the sleeve but dresses with that sleeve
generally had a full gathered shirt. My gown's skirt is not gathered.
Someone mentioned to not look at the sleeve for dating purposes. I think
Kathleen is correct with the date. I thought about VCU's collection and two
early 60s costumes stood out in my mind. There was a scalloped beaded dress
that looked like the fish scales. The other costume was a cape with layered
rounded petals that reminded me of bird feathers.
Penny Ladnier
Owner, The Costume Gallery Websites
www.costumegallery.com
11 websites of fashion, textiles, costume history
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