item number #SOLD1067
RARE Edwardian 1916 1917 TITANIC LADY DUFF GORDON gown My Promise Important TITANIC survivor "Lucile" designer
FABULOUS 1912-1917 Edwardian, extremely rare LADY DUFF GORDON gown, (designer of "Lucile," and an important TITANIC survivor.) If you love antiqueclothing, odds are that most of you have seen the movie, "Titanic" a gazillion times, and you already know who the famous (and also infamous- depending on how you view history) designer of this gorgeous gown was. For those of you who are not in the know, this stunning, gown was designed, by the famous "Lucile" designer, clothier LADY DUFF-GORDON! So, I hope this important piece of history finds its way to a "Titanic" good new home.
This gorgeous gown was in the 1916-1917 Sears custom clothing catalogue. Lady Duff Gordon was the first designer to create a custom clothing line for Sears. This Lady Duff gown is an absolute marvel of design. The gown is unusually colored as it was specially dyed a stunning duo of purplish-gray sheer silk Georgette for the main body shell, with large, opaque geometric accents of grape silk dress satin. The bodice has a full, blousen dropped "V" front (after 1907, it was common for Lady Duff to drop the necklines of her gowns.) and finely tucked, bishop sleeves- more often seen in earlier gowns. This beautiful gown is virtually without encumbering foundation layers- just the most scandalously minimal of fabric allowed to cover. It's completely unboned, and sheer enough to be see-through (very unusual to have this amount of sheerness until the 20's!), with only the sheerest, gauziest of ivory gossamer silk net inside, trimmed with beautiful Lilly Lace in net in floral bouquets at the boned revers collar, plunging decollete' and wide cuffs. It has many round self-fabric buttons that I believe became a trend in themselves in the 20's!!! The inner petersham belt IS the gown's foundation, and the heaviest article, overlaid in grape gossamer silk tissue embroidered with her personal, very stylized tag, handwritten with her name, then woven into creme silk taffeta ("Lady Duff Gordon," S.R. and Co.") with bordering bars of pale green above, yellow below and has a customer control number stamped on canvas (I think this gown may be able to very accurately find out who the customer was for this gown.). This great gown has an inner skirt lining of grape tissue silk that only reaches to the knees- ending where the panels start at the knees- very unusual. The gown is slightly full below, (not pencil slim) and the clever silk satin panels had been made to look like faux floating Georgette panels. Hook and eye closures. Lightweight, comfortable- perfect for a summer afternoon or evening. This gown has been worn.
Condition:
t's a very stylish and interesting gown indeed- you don't find many gowns sold on the open market by famous historical personages... But no, I do not recommend it be worn at all, although the size is decent size 8. If carefully stabilized or restored, the gown could be displayed on a mannequin. (I also hope it's also photographed, and a pattern made as well, as it's such a great gown.) The fine gray silk Georgette has fragility along the span of the back shoulders (see close-up photos) with a few weakened spots on one shoulder, and the georgette feels a bit dry to me. The inside ivory silk net liner had been perspired in, so I'm positively sure she worn a very thin, fine, breathable undergarment underneath (grape silk would be my guess.) and her perspiration yellowed and broke down the fibers in the net creating tears, and gown shoulder and back. More proof of this is that the underarms have watery uneven staining, and the neckline lace have yellowed perspiration spots along with normal age yellowing. The china silk underskirt is going, but the grape silk satin inserts are very strong, with a few areas of non distracting, minor discolorations (see photos) No reserve- Enjoy!
This item is sold and no longer available.
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Estimated Current size Approx.:
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| Size | Maker's Tags/ Marks | Estimated condition rating | Estimated overall condition scale of 1-10 | | Medium (10) | "Lady Duff Gordon" "S.R. and Co." | Good. | 8 |
This item is sold and no longer available.
| Our Explanation of item's grading terms: | | MINT; | NEAR MINT; | EXCELLENT; | VERY GOOD; | GOOD; | FAIR; | POOR; | | Like brand new. | No noticeable stains or tears (or VERY tiny or FAINT), a gentle touch of wear. | Light wear, minimal faint stain or two, less than 1." Nothing distracting.
| Used gently, minor spots or wear. Sound structure. Nothing visually detracting. | Used, but still has life, spotting, wear or fraying. Visual problems but structure sound. | Used, so-so condition but usable, heavy spotting, fraying, still useful for the creative. | Heavily used, stained, worn or split, a pattern, project, or a cutter. |
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