BambooBimboVintage and Handmade: Vintage 1940s Yellow Satin Dress by Henry Morgan & Co.

The pictures below are of a beautiful 1940s satin yellow dress. The condition is excellent (with a few spots around the bottom hem but otherwise flawless, with no signs of age). I wanted to find out more about the the dress, and accurately approximate its age. The following is a summary of the research. It may be of use to anyone looking for information on identifying the age of vintage clothing, or anyone interested in Canadian fashion history and associated brands.

Henry Morgan & Co. was a Montreal-based Canadian department store, opened in 1845 as Morgan's. By the 1950s Morgan's had several locations throughout Ontario and Quebec. In 1960, The Hudson's Bay Company bought Henry Morgan & Co. and all associated brands. At that time, all clothing manufactured under the Henry Morgan & Co. label is thought to have changed to The Hudson's Bay Company brands. The flagship Morgan's store in Montreal, remained known as "Morgan's" (although the possesive 's' was eventually dropped) until 1972, and may have still carried items with the label "Henry Morgan & Co," but no new garments were thought to be produced under that brand from 1960 onwards.

The fitted style, the satin fabric, the belt, the quarter length sleeves, and front zipper, all indicate that the dress is of the 1940s.
The seams are pinked, but not serged (with several of them being frenched). Indicating the dress may be of the 1950s, however the heavy collar, and loose 3/4 length sleeves indicates the 1940s. Pinking cutters were readily available in the 1940s, but became more common in later years.

All the seams have extra fabric, a marker of age; as modern garments have minimal seam allowance.

The latest this dress could have been made is 1960 (when Henry Morgan & Co was bought by The Hudson's Bay Company). However, the lack of serging on the seams (and the frenching of the some of the seams) indicate it would have been earlier than 1960. The sleeve style (loose under the arms, 3/4 length sleeve, rolled cuff) as well as the wide collar were worn in the 1940s.

For more information on Henry Morgan or Hudson's Bay, visit the Hudson's Bay Heritage wesbite:

http://www.hbcheritage.ca/hbcheritage/history/acquisitions/retail/morgans

The people who maintain the site are extremely helpful and knowledgeable (if you have random questions about old clothes).