This is a really special and rare dress from the late teens. The dress was made by a very interesting and renowned designer Eleanor O’Donovan. Her life is just so fascinating and her work is stunning, she even has pieces in the Met. I have provided a link if you would like to learn more about her. This dress is truly stunning. It is made of a luxurious soft mauve velvet with matching chiffon sleeves and bust. The dress has a high crew neckline in the chiffon with a sailor-style collar in velvet at the back. The bust of the dress is in the chiffon with metallic lace and taupe silk lining behind it. The front is bib style and is covered in the most incredible embroidery. Most of the embroidery is done in metallic threads of gold, silver, and copper, as well as a thick silvery grey silk embroidery floss. The sleeves on the dress are also made of chiffon and fall to the wrist with large keyholes down the sides. The keyholes are trimmed in silver bugle beads and at the top, there are little swags that connect the two edges together. There are also undersleeves of chiffon that are ¾ in length and in a pinker hue. The dress has an attached sash style belt that falls about at the natural waist? The skirt of the dress is simpler and falls straight to the mid-calf. There are two side panels that are attached at the waist and hang down each side both adorned with stunning embroidery and silver bugle beads at the center. The back of the dress is also very wonderful with it having a cape-ish styled back that is fluid all the way from the shoulder to the hem. The sides are separated from the hip swags and hang over the straight part of the skirt. The back also has wonderful embroidery as well as more beads with long stripes that enhance the cape? Look. The hem and side are also embroidered. The dress has a mix of mostly snaps and some hooks and eyes down the front left side for closure and there are multiple layers as well. The dress is completely lined in taupe silk. The dress also has a waistband with a tag that reads “O'Donovan New York. There is a ton of wonderful hand sewing and finishing throughout the dress as well as dress weights to help the skirt hang as envisioned.

Condition:

The dress is truly in fantastic condition with only a few minor flaws to note. The dress does have some staining. The most notable is on the top layer of chiffon. The dress also has a few holes on the right sleeve. They are mostly on the back and on the inside of the arm and are not super notable. There is also some staining on the inside of the skirt that doesn't show through the velvet and has not damaged the fabric. Other than that the dress is still strong and *wearable*. The dress is odor-free as well.

Sizing:

I have provided full measurements below but please note the torso length as I don't have a mannequin that is appropriately sized for the dress and am not sure where the waistline for the dress truly lies, it would depend on an individual's torso length. I believe the dress is in the late teens so it could be a natural waist, or slightly higher as early in the decade, or closer to the drop waist as we are moving toward the 20s silhouette. I am always happy to answer questions especially about fit if needed.

Measurements

Shoulder: 14"

Bust: up to 40"

Waist: up to 38"

Hips: up to 50"

Length:

(shoulder to hem): 49"

(waist to hem): 31"

Sleeves: 21"

This item is sold from an excellent, highly rated vintage seller in Pittsburgh, Pa.