It's easy to imagine Billie Holiday wearing this dress to perform in a smoky club somewhere in Harlem. It's the kind of dress that invites sultry, longing-filled music and the soft clink of silverware from audience members sitting at shadowy tables.

This is a classic late-1930s velvet evening gown. It appears to be a variation on a popular pattern for home sewers from that time. It was most likely constructed during wartime, as the clever seamstress who made this dress had to add a panel along the hem so that she could construct the entire garment out of the fabric she had to work with. You can't see this panel unless you look closely for it.

The best part about this dress is--well, there are so many best parts. It's in pristine condition and still completely wearable, first of all. Secondly, it could easily be something you'd purchase from Anthropologie or BHLDN today because its cut is both elegant and timeless. This is the most perfect wedding guest or bridesmaid dress, and so beautifully tailored. I've never seen a zipper run along a tailored seam the way the zipper does here, and it works. Collar closes with two snaps.

This dress best fits a women's size M. Shown modeled on a form with 27in waist and 36in bust.

MEASUREMENTS
Length 56in
P2P 17. 5in
Waist (measured flat and doubled) 28in
Hips (measured flat and doubled) 40in max

This item is sold from a vintage boutique in Champaign, Illinois.