Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Dinner Suits
Dinner suits made their appearance towards the end of the 1930's. The early ones consisted of a short jacket often embroidered or beaded and a long, matching skirt. Fabrics included crepe, wool, velvet and boucle. The designer most associated with the dinner suit was Elsa Schiaparelli.
This fabulous jacket is from Schiaparelli's Modern Comedy Collection, Spring 1939. It was originally worn over a slinky black evening dress. I would wear this today over a black skirt or pants or even jeans! Black velvet patches embellish black wool with black buttons in the shape of harlequin masks add a touch of whimsy. Image from "Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli", The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The striking "Black Widow" Madra Lord strikes a pose in this marvelous dinner suit from "Jackpot". It was from Ashton Drake's final Gene Marshall Collection. Wine taffeta is accented with matching velvet bow and hemline flounce. Accessories included a hat (not shown), muff, gloves, and shoes. The storycard indicates that it is circa 1947. However, I found an illustration of the suit in a 1941 issue of Vogue.
This fabulous jacket is from Schiaparelli's Modern Comedy Collection, Spring 1939. It was originally worn over a slinky black evening dress. I would wear this today over a black skirt or pants or even jeans! Black velvet patches embellish black wool with black buttons in the shape of harlequin masks add a touch of whimsy. Image from "Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli", The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
This is the illustration from a fashion spread promoting the American Haute Couture in the September 1941 issue of Vogue. The dinner suit is black silk crepe and silk velvet accented with green muff, shoes and ostrich head-dress. No particular designer was credited to it. It was from the American Autumn Collection. Salon Moderne, Saks-Fifth Avenue.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Rich Girl, or.....Dressing To Please A Man
This delightful illustration is from an article featured in a 1939 issue of Vogue. The author, Jane Conway, explores the art of dressing to please a man! I can just imagine Gene in her elegant beige suit and hat sipping coffee with Trent when Madra struts by dressed to turn heads.
In this case it is Ivy Jordan who is dressed to please in Madra's "Rich Girl" ensemble. The wonderful floral hat is borrowed from 24Kt Madra.
Labels:
Ivy Jordan,
Madra Lord,
rich girl,
the couture touch,
Vogue
Monday, December 27, 2010
Welcome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)