50s hand-crocheted pink ribbon and mohair wiggle dress

the look

a 1950s hand-crocheted wiggle dress worked in pink ribbon and soft mohair, with a fine thread of metallic sparkle running through every row. the ribbon twists into a rippled, almost petal-like texture, and the mohair softens it with a faint halo. it's cut in the classic 50s wiggle shape: a wide scoop neckline, short cap sleeves, a fitted waist seam and a narrow pencil skirt that falls to mid-calf. ribbon knit and crochet dresses were a mid-century specialty, often made by hand from published patterns or by small knitwear houses. the stitch has real give, so this one hugs the figure without restricting it.

please note: a few small repairs have been made to the crochet over the years. they blend into the texture and aren't noticeable when worn.

details

• era: 1950s
• designer: unbranded
• origin: unknown
• design: hand-crocheted wiggle dress in pink ribbon and mohair with a fine metallic thread throughout. wide scoop neckline, short cap sleeves, fitted bodice with a defined waist seam, narrow pencil skirt to mid-calf. pullover, unlined. materials and percentages - content tag not present, fiber content unknown; ribbon (likely rayon) and mohair with a metallic thread, based on comparable 1950s ribbon crochet dresses
• condition: excellent: crochet and ribbon intact throughout, a few small mends worked into the stitch that blend into the texture
• size & fit: no size tag. best modern fit estimate is women's xs to small, approximately us 2-6 depending on desired ease. the crochet has generous stretch, and the waist gives up to 30 in, so it skims close through the bust, waist and hips. shown on a dress form measuring 17 in shoulders, 35 in bust, 30.5 in underbust, 25 in waist and 35 in hips.
• flat measurements: measured unstretched: bust 15.5 in flat, waist 12.5 in flat (stretches to 15 in flat), hips 16.5 in flat, shoulder 13.5 in, sleeve 5 in, length 44 in