This beautiful party dress came from the estate of a well-traveled, very active socialite in our area who shopped at the most prestigious shop in Tulsa and had excellent taste. This wonderful Victor Costa dress is no exception! As a matter of fact, it doesn't even look as if it's ever been worn! (My camera kept picking up the late day sun in some of the pictures...I'm sorry, so the lighter pix are the truer colors.)
It's done in a nice summery weight cotton print that looks as if it came from an English drawing room...or perhaps an English garden. Multitudes of flowers cover the off-white background in happy abandon. The dress is made with a fitted scoop-necked bodice and great poufy sleeves with elastic on both edges so that the sleeves can touch the shoulder or become a part of a glamourous cooler off-the-shoulder look.
The very full longer skirt is accented with a deep avocado green grosgrain ribbon belt that hooks under the bow in the front. With Costa's flair and attention to detail the skirt sports it's own nylon horsehair crinoline with a double bottom ruffle and just to be sure...there is a tiny strip sewn into the hem. The crinoline petticoat has a soft taffeta top so that there's no bulk at the waistline.
The bodice is completely self-lined and the wonderful sleeves have a very soft meshy lining for fullness. The Costa label is close to the back zipper, and the label that says size 8 is sewn into a side seam. (This label was used mostly during the 1980's so we can probably date this dress to that era.) There are even pockets slipped into either side seam.
The bustline is about 19" across lying flat measured through the fullest part; the waistline is 14" lying flat. The bodice is 17" elastic top edge to waist; the skirt is approximately 33" long from the waist. If I've measured it correctly the skirt is a wonderful 250" around...what a magnificent dress for a summer dance under the stars!!
This is a dress with a definite "Wow!" factor...and destined to become a special favorite with its new owner.


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