Sister Sadie's Mystery Dress

This one has a story.

It came from the estate of Sister Sadie.

I used to go to church with Sister Sadie. She was a fine, upstanding Church of God woman, who wore no makeup or jewelry, but, man, she loved clothes. And she bought them...from high dollar boutiques. ( she always drove a new Cadillac, too)

So, I went to her estate with fond memories. Saw plenty of antiques , nice dishes, dreamy furniture, and bland but expensive clothes.It was kind of sad, as I'd see a dress and remember her wearing it to church.

But....buried waaay back in the closet,past the simple yet well made dresses.....was THIS one. Still encased in it's dry cleaning plastic bag. I pounced.

It is obviously late 50's.....so this wouldn't have been her wedding or honeymoon dress. And it was SO NOT HER.

When did Sister Sadie wear this dress? To what function? She plainly attached some sentimental value to it, as it was the only piece anywhere near vintage.

Her daughter who were running the sale had never seen it.

I like to think she had one special night out.......to celebrate , who knows what, but there it was, like a pearl among brown pebbles.

The dress is hydrangea blue rayon lace over a palest blue acetate underdress. Metal back zipper. Short sleeves. But the kicker is the sexy side adornment of a fan shaped bow with two long trailing tails. So stunning.

Eve tho it was in it's dry cleaned bag, I had to soak it to remove the Funk of Ages that vintage gets when hidden in a closet for too long. I pressed it , and it came out beautifully. I also repaired 2 small holes in the lace (how did Sister Sadie get holes in her dress???), that are very hard to see, as the lace it HOLY anyway, being lace.

Very nice dress, and even tho I soaked it for hours, it still holds an oh-so-faint trace of her White Shoulders perfume.

Promise to give this dress one more Good Time.See it at


bust : 40"
waist : 29"
hips: 40"
length : 40"