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Vintage late 1970s Gold Chain Mail Whiting & Davis Gold Mesh Blouse UK 14 US 10

About the Item

This glamorous 1980's Whiting & Davis gold mesh blouse, is the perfect statement piece of fashion history for your cocktail wardrobe. The angular square cut neckline is edged with internal bias binding and is framed by a simple shoulder line. The short length sleeves boast wide openings, that allow for the design of the sleeve to drape in gentle pleats to either side of the bodice. The longline cut of the blouse is accented by pleated gathers along each side seam from beneath the waistline, creating pleating to the gold mesh and adding a textural element to the sparkling metal finish. Finished with a rounded hemline along the front and back, and a central zip fastening that runs from the nape. Label: Whiting & Davis Measurements of the Blouse Armpit to Armpit: up to 40 inches Shoulder to Hem: 27.5 inches Waist: up to 36 inches Shoulder to Shoulder: 15 inches Size: UK 14 US 10 Closures: This blouse fastens to the back with 17.5 inch metal zip and a hook and eye. Condition: This blouse is in perfect vintage condition. With some light and gentle tarnishing to the mesh. This is not apparent when the blouse is being worn and only noticeable upon very close inspection. Please refer to the photographs as they form part of the condition report. Washing instructions: This garment should be dry cleaned or hand washed in cool water. Fabric: Bias binding, Metal Mesh Vintage garments have been previously worn and lovingly cared for, they may however have a blemish or two. Here at Willow Hilson, we try our very best to note all the details of each garment, although we may sometimes overlook things, which we do apologise for. Please do not expect perfection, unless stated so. Please make sure you check all the measurements of the garment before purchasing. Vintage garment sizes are not the same as those of today. To ensure the best fit, we suggest you measure you favourite similar style garment and compare it to the measurements we have listed.WH

Designer:
Whiting & Davis
Dimensions:
Marked Size: 14 (UK)
Style:
1980s (Of the Period)
Period:
1980-1989
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Cheltenham, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2682218281842

Shop All Whiting & Davis

Whiting & Davis

You might not expect chain-mesh bags to predate sliced bread by three decades, but it’s true. The very first mesh purse was created by Charles Whiting (1864–1940) in 1892 while working for the jewelry manufacturer Wade Davis & Company in Plainville, Massachusetts. Whiting joined the company at the age of 16, and by 1896 he formed a partnership to purchase it, renaming it the Whiting & Davis Company.

While the original Whiting & Davis mesh purse was made entirely by hand — artisans hammered out the links and wove them together — the company developed a machine to automate fabrication in 1912. With the ability to produce more rapidly and prolifically, Whiting & Davis became a veritable mesh empire, creating handbags and purses in all shapes, styles and colors, including ones made from precious metals, painted with Art Deco designs and silk-screened with Impressionistic images. The purses became status icons for the stylish elite, particularly with the flappers of the 1920s.

Over the years, Whiting & Davis struck up partnerships with some of the most talented designers of the time, including Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli and Elsa Peretti, who used their mesh in elegant pieces for Tiffany & Co., propelling their popularity even further. After a brief hiatus during World War II, when Whiting & Davis produced radar equipment rather than handbags, the brand continued to develop an ever-expanding line of products that included clothing.

In the 1970s, Whiting & Davis accessories and clothing were the rage of the disco scene. By the early 2000s, everyone from Paris Hilton to Lady Gaga donned the brand’s mesh handbags.

Recent innovations to their offerings include color mesh and fine mesh, with the brand refocusing on fashion jewelry with the launch of a new collection in 2013 featuring a revamped vintage snake-bracelet design. The company has been based in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, since 1995, also supplying its renowned chain mesh for industrial uses like work gloves and protective applications such as shark suits for divers.