Vintage 70’s Floor Length Aqua Lace Hostess Dress Union Made

The color of this beautiful hostess dress absolutely screams 70’s (I was there 😆). It makes me think of drinks with swizzle sticks shaped like swords, Johnny Mathis on the console record player, ashtrays with lipstick stained cigarette butts, and finger sandwiches. The ILGWU tag puts it squarely in the 70’s, which is no surprise at all. This dress is a bit of a puzzle. The crispness of the fabric, the strongly intact fastenings, and the still vibrant color suggests it’s hardly been worn. However, the lining shows pretty significant discoloration. My theory is, that it was worn once, not laundered properly, and put away for fifty years, during which, the aluminum in the antiperspirant, together with perspiration and body oils, broke down the dye. Luckily, the discoloration is not visible on the exterior of the dress. To all outward appearances, she just left the store. Though the ILGWU label is intact, there is no brand label. But regardless of who designed it, its so quintessentially 70’s, that it’s a great addition to any collection. Measurements (flat): Dress - B: 17 in., W: 14 in. H: 18 in. Waist to hem: 43 in. Shoulder to hem: 53 Jacket - W: 18.5 in., B: 18.5, H: 18.5, SL: 21 in. Shoulder to hem: 23 in.