| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | appear in other garments made of fabric that would |
| With celebrities such as Barbara Streisand, Sarah | | | | frey easily. |
| Jessica Parker, Winona Ryder, Sharon Stone, Drew | | | | A 1965 catalogue ad mentions that a garment |
| Barrymore and Michael Richards flaunting their trendy | | | | featured overlocked seams, while another ad boasts |
| wardrobes vintage fashions have become very | | | | overlock seams in 1960’s lingerie. The term is |
| popular. Whether you want to establish a collection of | | | | not a selling point in fashions of today as most attire |
| clothes from bygone eras or you would just like a few | | | | has overlocked or serged seams. |
| unique pieces to add oomph to your wardrobe, it is | | | | Another indication of age is the use of the zipper. |
| interesting to know the history of your piece. | | | | Patented in 1893 the first zipper was called a clasp |
| How do you know if the 1930’s silk charmuese | | | | locker. These zippers were not practical. Although a |
| nightgown advertised on Ebay is really from the | | | | zipper was developed in 1913 with interlocking teeth, it |
| 1930’s era? Now if you absolutely love the | | | | was slow to catch on. |
| colour or style well maybe the age does not matter. If | | | | Zippers were first put in children’s clothing in the |
| you do not want to pay a premium for something that | | | | 1930’s and replaced the button fly in |
| is not as advertised, it is important to learn a few | | | | men’s trousers around 1937. There were a few |
| pointers. | | | | zippers in women's clothing of the 1940's, but most |
| There are numerous ways to date garments. You can | | | | garments still possessed button fasteners, until the |
| shop with confidence when you know what clues to | | | | 1950’s when they finally became popular. |
| watch for. | | | | Catalogues from the mid 1960’s boast about |
| For instance - How are the seams finished? Are they | | | | the wonders of nylon zippers. Nylon zippers were |
| pinked, Frenched or serged? Sergers and overlock | | | | thought to be less bulky, easier to hide and more |
| machines have been around since the 1950’s, | | | | comfortable than the old metal zippers. |
| but were not in homes until around 1964. Inspecting the | | | | Keep in mind that the presence or absence of a |
| seams of custom-made items may not tell you for | | | | zipper and the type of zipper provides clues to the |
| sure when it was made, but it can let you know for | | | | age of the garment but that other factors still need |
| sure when it wasn’t made. | | | | consideration. As zippers can be replaced, metal |
| Examination of the seams on store bought, mass | | | | zippers are not a guarantee that the item was |
| produced clothing of the 1950’s, shows that | | | | manufactured before 1960. Similarly, a vintage garment |
| most were pinked. Overcast seams, welted seams or | | | | may have had a broken zipper replaced by a nylon |
| Frenched seams were usually only found on very | | | | one. |
| expensive garments. Overlock seams did start | | | | These are just a couple of points to consider when |
| showing up in lingerie during the 1950’s. By the | | | | identifying vintage clothing. Other factors to take into |
| early 1960’s all lingerie had overlocked seams, | | | | account are fabrics, styles and labels. |
| and the use of the overlock stitch was beginning to | | | | |