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1920's evening/party dress terminology

Mr Gneiss GuyMr Gneiss Guy Posts: 462
edited December 1969 in The Commons

There is a style I have seen in movies set in the 1920s or early 1930s, where the women wear a dress, and they have a sheer dress or other layer over it. I think it is primarily evening/party wear but I have no idea what the look is actually called, so I am having trouble looking up examples. Does anyone more fashion literate than myself know? Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • SiscaSisca Posts: 875
    edited December 1969

    Are you talking about something like the Overdress in this set: http://www.sharecg.com/v/70010/related/21/DAZ-Studio/Genesis-Roaring-20s-Outfit-Part-2

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited December 1969

    I have to admit that I would merely refer to an Overdress and an Underdress.

  • Mr Gneiss GuyMr Gneiss Guy Posts: 462
    edited December 1969

    I saw something like what I was thinking of, and they called it a chiffon dress with a slip. Does that sound right? But "chiffon dress" looks like it can mean almost anything.

  • SiscaSisca Posts: 875
    edited December 1969

    Chiffon is a type of material so, yeah, could be almost anything.

    Overdress and Underdress would probably be the terms you're looking for. That's what it's called in Wilmap's 20's outfit and I've found that she's pretty good with the historical outfits.

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited December 1969

    Yeah, worked well for me when I was doing dressmaking and costume making in real life.

  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447
    edited December 1969

    If it's what I'm thinking of - a loose, nearly translucent over-dress made of a sheer fabric (the afore-mentioned chiffon, or tulle) - I heard it referred to some years ago as a "cage".

    Looks exceedingly elegant over a pencil-style evening gown (sleeveless, of course, with modified Mandarin collar and keyhole neck, and a long back-slit - you don't want her walking down the red carpet like Morticia Addams!) Especially in black!

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited September 2013

    Ken OBanion said:
    If it's what I'm thinking of - a loose, nearly translucent over-dress made of a sheer fabric (the afore-mentioned chiffon, or tulle) - I heard it referred to some years ago as a "cage".

    Looks exceedingly elegant over a pencil-style evening gown (sleeveless, of course, with modified Mandarin collar and keyhole neck, and a long back-slit - you don't want her walking down the red carpet like Morticia Addams!) Especially in black!

    I remember my Mother making herself a very elegant Black lace evening dress, and she then made underdresses in several different colours in cheaper mock taffeta, so she had several different looks, much cheaper than making several fancy evening gowns.

    Never heard them referred to as a cage though. Only time I ever used that word was if I was making a cage crinoline petticoat.

    Post edited by Chohole on
  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447
    edited December 1969

    chohole said:
    Ken OBanion said:
    If it's what I'm thinking of - a loose, nearly translucent over-dress made of a sheer fabric (the afore-mentioned chiffon, or tulle) - I heard it referred to some years ago as a "cage".

    Looks exceedingly elegant over a pencil-style evening gown (sleeveless, of course, with modified Mandarin collar and keyhole neck, and a long back-slit - you don't want her walking down the red carpet like Morticia Addams!) Especially in black!

    I remember my Mother making herself a very elegant Black lace evening dress, and she then made underdresses in several different colours in cheaper mock taffeta, so she had several different looks, much cheaper than making several fancy evening gowns.

    Never heard them referred to as a cage though. Only time I ever used that word was if I was making a cage crinoline petticoat.

    I actually ran across the description in a book I read back in high school - it was one of those hard-boiled detective novels, and even the author acknowledged that he probably got the terminology wrong, but for some reason, the term stuck with me. He was referring to the "overdress", for want of a better term, that was actually more reminiscent of a sheer, well, let's call it something vaguely akin to a nearly floor-length poncho. The garment he described also had French cuffs, too, as I recall. (I do not, however, recall any mention of diamond cuff-links, but they would certainly have been appropriate.)

    In any event, this conversation inspired me to take a whack at modeling the dress I'm thinking of, if only as a visual aid to describe what I'm talking about! (I need to burnish my Blender chops, anyway!) Pray for me...!

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    edited December 1969

    Ken OBanion said:
    chohole said:
    Ken OBanion said:
    If it's what I'm thinking of - a loose, nearly translucent over-dress made of a sheer fabric (the afore-mentioned chiffon, or tulle) - I heard it referred to some years ago as a "cage".

    Looks exceedingly elegant over a pencil-style evening gown (sleeveless, of course, with modified Mandarin collar and keyhole neck, and a long back-slit - you don't want her walking down the red carpet like Morticia Addams!) Especially in black!

    I remember my Mother making herself a very elegant Black lace evening dress, and she then made underdresses in several different colours in cheaper mock taffeta, so she had several different looks, much cheaper than making several fancy evening gowns.

    Never heard them referred to as a cage though. Only time I ever used that word was if I was making a cage crinoline petticoat.

    I actually ran across the description in a book I read back in high school - it was one of those hard-boiled detective novels, and even the author acknowledged that he probably got the terminology wrong, but for some reason, the term stuck with me. He was referring to the "overdress", for want of a better term, that was actually more reminiscent of a sheer, well, let's call it something vaguely akin to a nearly floor-length poncho. The garment he described also had French cuffs, too, as I recall. (I do not, however, recall any mention of diamond cuff-links, but they would certainly have been appropriate.)

    In any event, this conversation inspired me to take a whack at modeling the dress I'm thinking of, if only as a visual aid to describe what I'm talking about! (I need to burnish my Blender chops, anyway!) Pray for me...!

    Will do, and am interested in seeing the result.

    I wish I could get to grips with modelling, but I just never got there, Even a simple cube gets wobbly sides for me. LOL

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