This is a wonderful 1950s wool dress by Young Look, and one of those pieces that makes us remember exactly why we fell in love with this period.
Made from a beautifully soft mid-weight wool in a warm coral red, with narrow charcoal and cream stripes. What we especially love is the way the fabric has been used: the stripes run vertically through the bodice and wonderfully full skirt, while sections of the bodice and the three-quarter sleeves are cut on the diagonal. Even the pointed collar has been carefully constructed to frame the stripes — a small detail, but such a good one.
The silhouette is quintessentially 1950s: a neat fitted bodice, defined natural waist and an exceptionally generous gathered skirt. The dress buttons all the way down the front with glossy black buttons, making the strong graphic pattern even more striking.
It has that lovely balance we look for in 1950s day dresses — practical enough to have been genuinely worn, but with an amount of thought in the cut and fabric placement that makes it anything but ordinary.
Please make sure you double check your own measures and compare them to the ones below.
Shoulders, seam to seam: Rounded
Shoulders, side to side: -
Armpit to armpit: 19" (48cm)
Sleeves: 3/4
Armhole sleeve girth: 9" (22cm)
Waist: 27.5" (70cm)
Hips: -
Shoulder to waist: 16.5" (41cm)
Waist to bottom: 26" (66cm) + approx. 5.5" (14cm) hem to let down
Lenght: 42.5" (107cm)
Sweep, side to side: 43" (110cm)
Fabric: Wool
Condition: Mint condition