Antique Doll Dress Information 

Antique Doll Dresses-- Standard Styles

Searching on the internet, on eBay and doll sites, even doll supply houses—it is clear that most people describing antique doll dresses-- that is, dresses specifially  for antique dolls. don't really understand which style is which. For example, I just bought an antique doll on eBay, and in her description, it said she was "wearing a drop waist dress." This dress did not look like a drop. Not on the waist or anywhere else.
What she was wearing was "Dropped waist" style dress. Why is 'drop waist' wrong? Because the term is dropped-- meaning the waistline seam of the dress, where the skirt attaches to the bodice, is dropped lower than the natural waist line so the dress is accurately described as having a dropped waist. To call it "drop waist" makes no sense. Does the waist look like a drop? Here is a dropped waist style:
Click images for larger view
 
There are "Waisted dresses." This means the bodice and skirt are separate pieces that have been sewn together to form a seam at the natural waist line.Here is a waisted style dress:

There are "Shirt-waist style" dresses. These dresses have a bodice that buttons down the front, that looks like a shirt—but the skirt is sewn on and attached so it looks like the bodice is "tucked into" the skirt, as a shirt or blouse would be. Here is an example of a shirtwaist style:

There are "A-line" style dresses. This means the dress body is cut in one piece from the shoulder to the hem line—straight lines with a little flair at the bottom, so viewed from front or back it is shaped like a capital A, the bottom of the legs on the A being the hem line of the dress. The A-line style dress does NOT have a separate skirt sewn on. Here is an example of an antique doll dress A-line style:
Click images for larger view

There are "Princess style" antique doll dresses. These are similar to A-line, but are curved in at the waist to give a more natural figure shape. They are still cut in one length from shoulder to hem line, usually with several panels,but sometimes just darted, to give a better shape. Princess style dresses do not have a separate sewn on skirt. Here is an example:

There are "Empire Waisted" dresses—many people confuse a yoked dress with empire waisted. The empire waist is cut with bodice that goes over and stops just below the breast area. The skirt is attached just below where the breasts would be on an adult woman. The skirt can be gathered or straight, but is always a separate piece on the Empire waisted style dress. This is a popular style for antique doll dresses.Here is an example of one with a slightly gathered skirt:

There are "Yoked" dresses. In the yoked dress, the yoke is typically cut to rest just above the breasts. About half the armhole is cut into the yoke, the rest of it into the skirt. The skirt is gathered onto the yoke before the sleeves are set in. Here is an example of a yoked dress, also a very popular style for an antique doll dress:

There are "Straight" dresses. These dresses are usually cut with extra fullness in the front, and sometimes in the back, which is then gathered or tucked to form a normal size neck opening. The dress does not flare at the bottom like a Princess style or A-line dress.This style of antique doll dress was often seen on early antique composition dolls. The dress just hangs straight, like this example:

Sometimes yoked or straight dresses will have a belt or sash added at either the waist or below the natural waist line, to pull the dress in so it is more fitted. The belt or sash is not attached, just tied around the dress as a separate piece.The dress then may appear to be a "waisted" dress, or "dropped waist dress", depending where the belt or sash is put around it. It is neither of these—it is a " straight dress with a belt" or a "yoked dress with a belt." Below is an example of a straight dress that has been belted to give the appearance of a waisted dress, and  a yoked dress that has a belt added to give the appearance of a dropped waist dress:
           

I will address sleeves in another article. I hope this is helpful to those who are making or planning to make, or selling or planning to sell, or simply writing descriptions about, antique doll dresses. 

Fashion Doll Dresses, Dresses for Hard Plastic Dolls and Baby dolls, Doll Dress Patterns, and Collectible Dolls

Doll dresses and clothing for many fashion dolls...

including but not limited to Robert Tonner fashion dolls,Betsy McCall, Linda McCall and Anne Estelle, Toni, Antoinette, American Model, Ellowyn Wilde, and Tyler; Ideal Toni; Sweet Sue, Mary Hoyer, Cissy, and other 1950's dolls. We are dedicated to bringing you top quality original  doll clothes.

 A Word About Our Doll Dresses and Clothes Prices

I have been sewing for more than 70 years and it is not just a way to make  a living, it is an art I enjoy. If you are shopping for cheap doll clothes or inexpensive fashion doll dresses, there are lots of them on eBay and other websites. I don't try to compete on prices, I try to bring you superior quality doll clothes for each doll I sew for, and know you will see the difference. Click here to read what some of our doll dress customers have written.

Latest Doll Dresses Added

At last! Those of us who once owned the National Doll and Teddy Bear magazine, have launched a brand new site where you can sell your dolls, teddy bears and related items-- for FREE! Yes, FREE.

Combining the best features of Craig's list and Facebook, we have created a wonderful website with articles, pictures and other items of interest, where anyone can run a FREE classified ad to list their dolls, teddy bears and related items forsale or trade on line.
Unlike most online sale sites, we will NEVER charge you  commissions, percentages of your sale,final value fees, or listing or other fees. You may run as many free classified ads as you like as long as they are doll and/or teddy related. Each ad  can have up to five free images/pictures.  You control the ads completely, you can edit or change the ad any time you like-- but to protect our advertisers from unwanted materials, each time you place/edit an ad, it still has to be approved, which only takes a short time, then it is posted. Each ad runs until you cancel it.

Etsy seller? Sign up at NDANDTBC  and link to your Etsy pages!Ebay seller? Sign up and link to your eBay seller site. EVEN BETTER! You can now have your own website-- absolutely free. You build it, you manage it-- you sell your doll and teddy related items, including dollhouse items.

 Want to write articles about dolls or bears? Start a group! Well, COME ON DOWN to NDANDTBC and get going! Get your photo album up on your profile page and share what you have or are interested in to buy, sell or trade. Tell everyone where your next show is. 

Your show events and club events can be posted free too.

I know it is hard to believe that stuff is free-- but it  is here. We want collectors, dealers, traders, stores and all to come together for dolls and/or teddy bears and related items.If you have a doll store, sign up and put a link to your store! Same for teddy bears. Same for doll houses and doll house dolls and supplies.  Put in links to your website, your seller site on eBay-- whatever you want, as long as it is doll and/or teddy bear related.

If we make any money on this site it will not be from members-- it will be from someone who wants to sponsor the site. Just click here to go sign up and start having fun!

Feel free to call me between 12 noon and 10 PM ( Pacific time)if you have questions, or you may email me from the contact us page.

NDandTBC.com is a service  offered by Coburn Enterprises,  and JoAnn Morgan.Com to promote the wonderful hobby of collecting, buying and selling dolls and teddy bears.

HUGE CLOSE OUT! CHECK OUT THE SALE PRICES ON SHIRLEY TEMPLE DRESSES!

Antique Doll Dresses are suddenly in demand! That is, dresses that are appropriate for Antique Dolls-- I have had so many requests for more of these that I am working on adding several new styles that are actual copies of antique doll dresses that I have at one time had on antique dolls when I was in the antique doll business for 25 years. I will send out a newsletter as I add more antique doll dresses. Please be patient and I should have a good selection soon. I also make slips to match the antique doll dresses because most are of light, semi-sheer 100% cotton fabrics similar to the old fabrics originally used to dress antique dolls.

As always, adding new things to the website as fast as I can-- This week I have added a new rose tulle Cissy dress for old or new Cissy;  a genuine mink stole with silk satin lining for Kitty Collier; and a white faux fur stole to fit the 15/16" fashion dolls. There are many other new things too!