Rare 1940s Edith Small Silk & Lace Dress designer-alfred-bosand The separate shell top is

The separate shell top is lined in a black silk

There is two teeny runs (1/4" and 1/2" respectively) in the fabric under one arm that appear stable and did not increase with cleaning

This is the type of outfit you would have seen in Vogue or Harpers

wearable size

brilliant and iconic

Rare 1940s Edith Small Silk & Lace Dress designer-alfred-bosand The separate shell top isVery early and rare Edith Small dress that I would guess is from some of her very early years mid to late 1940s. It has a bit of extra interest in that is also has a Western Costume Company tag so the possibility of it having appeared on film at some point are very high! If we only knew on who! The dress is wonderfully made and a testament to her skills as a dressmaker. Edith Small was perhaps not as well known as some of her contemporaries of the day