I’m working on adding this chic beauty to the website. They call it a Spectator Dress, so of course, I went digging, as that’s not a term I’ve heard before. Two toned specator shoes, yes. Dress? Not so much.
Turns out that it’s a term for a shirtwaist dress. It is first seen in 1927, as a dress to be worn while watching tennis, polo or golf. The term is seen all the way through World War II and beyond, into the 2000s. Styles vary. It might be seen as a a super simple linen sheath, perhaps with pockets, or it can also have some oomph, like silks with added French cuffs or a tucked bodice. This one has two special accents: a bloused back, which I’m not sure works that well. I think it may give a broad shouldered person a bit more room to move, but I would have to be convinced that it wouldn’t look poufy and look like a hump back there. I do love the collar though. It also has a hidden zipper front, so it’s easy to get on and off, which I am always a fan of.
What do you think?
The Vintage Fashion Librarian 