1950s Carlye Cream Cotton Knife Pleat Dress

A classic example of good quality American day wear. We love this label - Carlye pieces just ooze refinment. This creamy beige cotton knife pleat dress has an elegent scoop neck augmented with 2 pearlescent buttons. These fasten on the shoulders and are purely decorative. There is an additional ochre coloured over-stitched ziz-zag pattern on the neckline. The dress has an interesting and continuous arrangement of knife pleats both on the bodice and the skirt. The knife pleats on the bodice are formed on an additional panel which you can pass your hand through. The panel is attached at the waist and the neckline and this feature was to ensure that the pleats align closely with that of the skirt when wearing.

The bodice is lined in the same fine cotton fabric whilst the skirt is unlined. There is a side pocket just below the original metal zip at the side. The condition is excellent - we have noticed one small brown faded mark very close to the waistband; barely noticeable and we inspected a few times before seeing this. This would also be covered by any belt. Best fit for UK size 8-10, US size 4-6 and of smaller stature as Carlye was a petite range brand. Our model is a UK 6-8 and 5ft 4in. (163cm) and this dress was slightly roomy on her. 

The Carlye Dress Corporation was formed in 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri. Owned by Corinne Fuller Glaser, Carlye went on to become one of the great dress houses in St. Louis, a city renowned for its 'junior wear' or in more modern terms - petite sizes fashion. Clothing manufacturing giant Leslie Fay bought the Carlye line around 1967.

MEASUREMENTS:
BUST - 36 in. (91.4 cm)
WAIST - 28 in. (71.1 cm)
HIP - 38 in. (96.5 cm)
LENGTH - 39 in. (99.1 cm)
SHOULDERS - 14 in. (35.6 cm)