LADIES 1940'S PARACHUTE WEDDING GOWN. DURING WWII, MANY SOLDIERS BROUGHT PARACHUTES HOME. FOR MANY YEARS WOMEN HAD TO SKIMP ON FABRIC IN CLOTHING DUE TO THE WAR EFFORT, SO THE WHITE SILK WAS USED TO MAKE MANY WEDDING GOWNS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. THE SILK IS VERY LIGHT AND DRAPEY BUT HAS A WEIGHT TO IT ALSO. IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE. THE DRESS IS A VERY SIMPLE DESIGN. IT IS STYLED WITH A KEYHOLE NECKLINE, AND GATHERED SIDE BUST SEAMS. THE BODICE HAS A SLIGHTLY DROPPED WAIST, AND MORE SO IN THE BACK. THE SLEEVES HAVE A SLIGHTLY GATHERED TOP AND HAVE ELBOW GATHERS SO YOU CAN MOVE IN A TIGHT SLEEVE. THE SLEEVE CUFF CLOSES WITH 3 SMALL BUTTONS AND LOOPS. THE SKIRT IS GATHERED VERY FULLY ONTO THE BODICE, AND IS TOP STITCHED. THE SKIRT HEM IS HAND SEWN. THE SKIRT IS LONGER IN THE BACK BY 5". THERE IS A LEFT SIDE METAL ZIP. SHOULDER TO SHOULDER 14". SHOULDER TO SLEEVE HEM 22". BUST 34". WAIST 26". SHOULDER TO WAIST 15". SHOULDER TO DROPPED WAIST IN FRONT 17". WAIST TO HEM FRONT 43". DROPPED WAIST TO HEM 41". OVERALL LENGTH FRONT 58". BACK 63". AROUND BOTTOM HEM 200". (BY THE WAY IT IS NOT PERFECT. IT WAS A PARACHUTE. THERE ARE A FEW RUBS. NO HOLES OR MARKS)