Day Dress vs. House Dress-Where's the Line?

When I purchased this dress online, it was listed as a, "Day Dress." When it arrived, after looking over the raw seams, cheap plastic belt, and poorly sewn-on buttons (on a dress that is new old stock) I knew immediately that it was in fact a, "House Dress." At least that's what it would have been called when I was growing up. So what's the difference? Quite a bit, though I wonder if today that distinction has been lost.

 A house dress is exactly that-something to be worn at home whilst doing housework. Often cheaply made, and easily launderable they were inexpensive cotton dresses that would be appropriate enough to answer the door, possibly sit in the garden and chat with a neighbour, or fetch a sick child home from school-but not nice enough to do the marketing, go to the bank, or any chores outside the home. For that, you really needed a Day Dress.

Of course in 2016 you can do the school run half-naked so who the hell cares if your dress has unfinished seams? 

 I don't feel the dress was misrepresented-it is still a nice enough cotton dress with cute trim that I will absolutely wear outside the house, but I do think there's a lack of understanding today about what would have been appropriate wear for what occasions. To someone that cares about dressing period correct, it could be an issue.

I also don't think this is a 1950's dress. Maybe very late-1959 but....no, I remember dresses like this being sold at places like Woolworth's in the 60's and early 70's. House dresses didn't change much in style after the late 40's, and the plastic buttons and belt (not shown) really scream 1960's to me. The pattern strangely enough is one that we had on bath towels in black and white when I was growing up. The dress is made by undergarment maker, Fruit of the Loom. Again, I don't really care about the date of manufacture, and I like the dress, but someone else might be disappointed. I purchased it from a reputable dealer, and I do think it was an honest mistake. I also acknowledge that I can be wrong as well. Were I selling it though, I'd want to make certain to point out the inability to date this dress with any certainty. It would have been better to call it a "50's-60's house dress" than a "1950's day dress". I do understand why it didn't sell originally listed at $80.00. I bought it for a bargain in the sale. I was hoping to be able to give the vintage dealer a good review here, but because of these issues I don't feel comfortable doing so. I'm going to hope it was a fluke, and maybe I'll try something else from her down the line. Again, I don't believe it was deliberate, but someone selling vintage should be more careful, and she appears to have been selling for some time. 

 Of course today, it is perfectly acceptable to wear what you like, as you like, when you please, so I added a cardigan to the dress and a few accessories. Then, because I could, I shot sunbeams out of my mouth:

 Oh, you think you can do this? Go on, try.

I am the wizard of awesome.

 I wanted to try and get a sunbeam shooting out my behind, but I couldn't manage that sort of contorting today, and if I threw out my back, it would be really hard to explain how it happened. I still have some dignity.


Outfit Particulars:
Vintage house dress-Online vintage shop
Vintage beaded cardigan-Somewhere in Seattle, early 90's
Dog brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Shoes-Clarks
Belt-Goodwill
Earrings-Yard sale
Marvella faux pearls-Filene's (I think) 90's
Enamel clamper bracelet-Gordman's (I think) early 2000's
Vintage Japan made handbag-Thrift World
Lippy-Loreal British Red
Fragrance-Guerlain Parure

Do the particulars of what an item is called, or how it is dated matter to you, or do you operate by whether you like it or not? And most importantly, can you shoot sunbeams out of any orifices? I need to know!