1940s Silky Cold Rayon Floral Teadress with Peplum

A beautiful original 1940s dress in a striking navy floral print, featuring delicate hyacinth-like blossoms in soft cream, pale yellow and subtle pink tones. The print alone makes this piece — refined, painterly and unmistakably of the era.

Crafted from lightweight rayon crepe (often referred to as cold rayon), the fabric has a soft, fluid drape with an almost silky, slinky feel against the skin. These early rayon pieces are highly sought after for exactly this reason — they move beautifully and wear like silk while remaining breathable and easy to style.

The dress features a flattering crossover bodice with a soft V-neckline, which allows flexibility through the bust and can accommodate a slightly fuller bust. The shoulders are gently gathered with small original shoulder pads, creating that classic 1940s silhouette.

The waist is defined and falls into a straighter skirt, enhanced by a subtle self-peplum detail that runs around the waist, adding movement and shape.

This piece appears to be handmade and is extremely well constructed, with hand-finished details such as the hem. As with many handmade garments, there are slight irregularities that add to its character and authenticity.

The dress has been pinned on the model for styling purposes; this dress would be fitted such as in the pictures on a larger sized person. 

Condition

Very good vintage condition, especially considering its age. There are two very small repaired pinholes on the back.

Measurements

Measurements (taken flat):

Pit to pit: 49 cm / 19.3 in

Waist: 40.5 cm / 15.9 in

Hips: 52 cm / 20.5 in

Shoulders: 36 cm / 14.2 in

Sleeve length: 38 cm / 15.0 in

Length: 111 cm / 43.7 in

Size

Approximate modern size:

EU 40 / UK 12 / US 8 /M-L

Model measurements

Model is a petite EU 36 / UK 8 / US 4 and the dress was pinned for fit.