Quick one for vintage lovers and nosy buggers. Which decade(s) are these dresses from? Are they revolting?

[ThisTooShallPass]

I think I love them all but I fear an accidental attack of the 80's! So, your best guesses please:

Black
Red
Leopards (actually a skirt and blouse and I wouldn't be having that belt with it)

Noooooo.

Don't do it.

Leopards is a tribute to the 80's with the borderr print.
I suspect the others are from that decade, I know 'cos I was there!
However they are very inspired by the forties, as many dresses of that era were,
the red one is the nicest

They're all 80s, and indeed the red one is ok. Word of warning from a survivor of that era - they won't do you any favours if they don't fit properly (drunken shoulderpads etc.) and they may well add weight and age.

Sorry to be so brutal, but it's the cut, not you, that's the problem; tailoring that's cheap or in skinny fabric is notoriously clunky to wear.

The red is definitely my favorite. Was indeed thinking of styling the first two in the general direction of 40's.

I'd need to take the one with the leopards up a good bit - looks mid calf and needs to go to under the knee. Am a short arse so stripy boarder will be banished.

Was thinking the leopards skirt and blouse would be versatile have a black circle skirt and a variety of naice black tops...

Oh, hell, yes will remove them there shoulder pads. Bah.

I like the drape of the leopards one. The black one is awful and I wouldn't wear the red one either. They're definitely all mid-80s.

Lurkers - counter on the aution site shows about 30 new hits. 'tis a very quiet site So, come on, stick your ores in. Please!

But that is the point, the shoulder pads are part of the "tailored" look and the intention is to make the top half an inverted triangle to make the waist look smaller.

x posts. So absolute and definite identification of the 80's.

Can I 40's 'em up though?

First one comes out at about 25 quid, the second two at 10 or 12 ish.

All three are absolutely bloody awful. I am old - I was a fully functioning adult in the eighties, and even then I would have thought they were bloody awful. Sorry.

Perhaps I'm perverse but I like the solid-colored two - 80s tailoring looks quite edgy and fresh atm. Especially if worn with a knowing smirk and a healthy dose of irony.

Not keen on the leopard one.

Some people can and should wear shoulder pads. People will be laughing at our skinny jeans 10 years down the line.

I 'ave MASSIVE shoulders, big boobs, proportionally small waist and hips. Am in fact a walking inverted triangle so they're me shape once the pads are out IYSWIM...

thank you all. Anyone else got owt to add?

Oh, yes, worn with irony, red lippy and good accessories.

the black one is OK only from the photo you can't see how long it is or how the skirt finishes. could look fine if you are slim and beautiful

Oh, hassled. Missed your post. Good frank stuff, cheers!

There are more photos if you scroll down...

damn was expecting 20's, 30's, 40's fashion. feel let down!

simply because of that. no.

i think the black one is wearable, but the material looks very thin....you are going to need a proper slip under that!

and don't take out the shoulder pads you will look deflated and it will not hang right, it'll slump over your bosom and be all gapey.

Of that I can only dream Sarnie. Oh, if only.

Am trying to get at <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.nl/imgres?um=1&hl=nl&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1173&bih=517&tbm=isch&tbnid=nloGUMYuiurVzM:&imgrefurl=www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/04/more-vintage-pattern-stashing.html&imgurl=4.bp.blogspot.com/_gPqQVAkSvtA/S9H4Bm12cDI/AAAAAAAAA80/yy031WbxIx4/s1600/DuBarry-5613.jpg&w=601&h=793&ei=uCc9UPrxHsOy0QXl-IHQDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=388&vpy=146&dur=10183&hovh=258&hovw=195&tx=137&ty=213&sig=117994937117526150460&page=2&tbnh=156&tbnw=138&start=14&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:14,i:166" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this sort of thing. But my budget says New Look (and not Dior's).

Bugger. My search will continue.

Right, I'm actually still thinking DonaAna might be a lone voice of reason.

Are the shoulder pads as big as these do you think? Smaller I could handle.

I'd probably wear the red one. I think you'd have to really go for the full victory rolls and seamed stockings with it to keep it out of the 80s though. Although there is a slight risk, if the shoulder pads are quite big that it might loose its shape a bit if you take them out, but if it's only about £10 I'd probably take the risk and put it on Ebay if I don't like it.

I think the first two are a bit joan collins, and you might not be able to pull off the irony unless you are v v young. If you want the forties look, haven't you tried ebay? They seem to be v good for vintage

..or even find an old pattern and get someone to make it up for you?