Glorious Gladrags Dress

Glorious Gladrags Dress in dusty blue by Emmy Design Sweden from Call Me Valerie.

This image series was created with Australian vintage reproduction boutique and Emmy Design Sweden stockist Call Me Valerie. Special thanks to the darling V for the opportunity to try these stunning pieces!

When the 2020 Autumn/Winter ‘Collegiate’ collection was released by Emmy Design Sweden, I honestly didn’t believe that I would suit this dress – my look being more Hepburn than slinky Deco darling. However, after wearing this Glorious Gladrags dress in bottle green for this shoot, I simply had to have it!

In a German-made viscose crepe, it made me feel beautiful and elegant with its figure-draping 1930s cut, art deco detailing on the belt, and capelet cascading over my shoulders. It also made me really wish I had a musical or show to attend that evening! Paired with a 1940s bra & black / champaign contrast seamed stockings from What Katie Did, with my Luxe New York Heels from Charlie Stone, this was an ensemble I did not want to take off!

I could rave about the dreamy aesthetics of this piece all day long, so I better focus and get on to the specifics: in terms of fit, I opted for the Size 36 after studying the size chart closely and it fits beautifully. The shoulders are pretty narrow on me so if you have wider shoulders I’d recommend paying close attention to the detailed measurement information in the size chart to ensure you get the best fit. The gathers around the bust mean it still suits my smaller bust despite being designed to accommodate a larger bust. I tried both a round modern style bra and a 1940s reproduction bra, and I preferred the shape of the 40s style under the gathers of this dress. Proportion-wise, it feels like there’s more room in the hips than the chest on me, though neither looks at all baggy or too large. The waist fits my body nicely without being skin-tight.

The belt and capelet can be removed or switched out to create new ensembles and different silhouettes. I personally can’t see myself wearing the dress without the capelet, as my upper body is quite narrow compared to the rest of my body and the capelet helps to balance out my proportions in a very flattering way. It’s also just very adorable and unique, so why wouldn’t I wear it every time?!

The dress is not lined, so I wore a half-slip underneath to avoid my stockings snagging the fabric. It is fastened with a zip running down the centre back. There are hidden side seam pockets, which are generous in size and quite subtle in terms of sitting out from the hips. The fluted skirt of the dress is heavenly. I love the zigzag seam detail around the knees, and the fluted design makes the fabric swish elegantly around my legs as I move, creating that iconic 1930s evening gown silhouette.

I was fortunate enough to wear both the bottle green and dusty blue (you know me and green – and I hope you enjoy seeing these rare photos of me wearing the colour blue!). They are both gorgeous – you can always count on Emmy to choose beautiful, nostalgic vintage colour palettes, and the deep 30s green and smokey pale blue of the Glorious Gladrags dresses are no exception!

If you’re looking for an elegant, unique dress for a fancy night out or a day turning heads, you can find both colours here and here on Melbourne-based reproduction vintage boutique Call Me Valerie – our Emmy Design Sweden stockist in Australia.

Explore my Glorious Gladrags Dress Style Gallery:

**Note: the colour of the dusty blue is difficult to accurately capture on camera – please refer to the colour swatch in the store’s image carousel for an accurate idea of the colour**

I am wearing Dusty Blue and Bottle Green in Size 36 with the following measurements:

Bust: 33″ / Waist: 26″ / Hips: 38″ / Height: 5’8″

Any questions? Leave me a comment below and I’ll get back to you!

Explore Emmy Design Sweden on Call Me Valerie

Explore Dresses on the Emmy Design Sweden Website

These images were created in collaboration with Call Me Valerie, Australia’s home of high quality reproduction vintage. The above review is my own personal thoughts on the garment.

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