60s hand-knit gold metallic mod shift dress

the look

a 1960s hand-knit mod shift dress in pale gold and ecru with metallic lurex worked all through the knit, so it catches the light at every turn. it's cut in the classic 60s shape: sleeveless and gently a-line, with a soft roll collar. an off-center strip runs down the front, set with five gold dome buttons, and two more buttons sit at the left shoulder. inside it carries a "fashioned by gail" label. home knitters and sewists bought personalized labels like this to stitch into their own work, so this was very likely made by hand for one woman's wardrobe. it's fully lined, with a metal zipper at the back neck.

please note: the lining shows some discoloration. it doesn't show on the outside of the dress.

details

• era: 1960s
• designer: unbranded
• origin: usa
• design: sleeveless a-line shift in a fine hand knit of pale gold and ecru with metallic lurex throughout. roll collar, off-center front strip with five gold dome buttons, two decorative buttons at the left shoulder, center back seam, banded hem, metal zipper at the back neck, fully lined. personalized "fashioned by gail" maker's label. materials and percentages - content tag not present, fiber content unknown; likely a wool or acrylic blend with metallic lurex, based on comparable 1960s metallic knits
• condition: good: knit clean and intact, discoloration in the lining
• size & fit: no size tag. best modern fit estimate is women's xs to small, approximately us 4-6 depending on desired ease. the a-line cut skims the body and eases through the hips, with a little give in the knit. 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: bust 17 in flat, waist 16.5 in flat, hem 21 in flat, shoulder 15 in, length 36.5 in