This is a simple little black dress dating to the late 1920's. The straight silhouette is a trademark of the 20's, but the longer length is a hint of things to come in the 1930's. Everything about this dress is straightforward and unadorned, save for the few pleats at the sides of the skirt. However, the seamstress has relieved the severity of the design with a clever trick. The center panel that encircles the waist reflects light differently than the upper bodice and skirt. This is because that piece of the dress was cut on the crosswise grain of the fabric rather than the lengthwise grain, as the rest of the pieces were. Such a simple idea, but it really works to give the dress some much needed visual interest!
See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .
