Here's another way to make an impression. This dress looks rather covered up for evening. But presto, chango:
Take off the jacket and you've got a strapless bombshell of a dress. Interesting how the buttons on the jacket match the buttons on the dress, so you have the illusion (there's that word again!) of one piece, when it is actually two.
This dress by Saks Fifth Avenue is from 1949. The ad states:
"Sheila Lynn's beautiful change-of-costume. Jacket on at the restaurant table, nude shoulders when the music begins."
Now if we only had a fancy restaurant around here that had dancing after dinner, I'd be all set. Love those strappy shoes!