Vintage Swimsuit Inspiration - 1956
Showing posts with label 1957. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1957. Show all posts
Hats for Spring - 1957
I'm feeling trapped. The snowbanks are higher than my waist, the driveway is getting narrower and narrower, and I am generally sick to death of winter. It's so cold, the inner harbor is frozen over. Someone remind me why I live in Boston?
To combat the winter blues and blahs this week, let's look at some goodies for spring so that we can start to dream of balmier weather. And for those of you living in warmer climates right now, I am officially jealous!
Today, spring hats from 1957. Just looking at hats lifts my mood. How about you?
Rose Valois forms a double bandeaux of rose petals.
Pierre Balmain wide brim straw hat.
Ruban flower petal cap with dramatic face veil.
Albouy uses metallic mesh and tops it with a rose.
Gilbert Orcel blue and white stripe silk.
Weekend Eye Candy - Jacques Fath, 1957
Jacques Fath weaves black silk ribbons into a tight fitting cap. The loops at the back resemble a fun coiffure. Notice too the mix of a double strand of pearls AND a brooch. Love!
Weekend Eye Candy - Mme. Gres, 1957
Blue silk satin evening gown and matching cape by Madame Grès, 1957.
Weekend Eye Candy - Kim Novak, 1957
Actress Kim Novak poses for a publicity photo taken by Robert Coburn. She is wearing a purple ruched chiffon one-shoulder jumpsuit and clear lucite Springolators. Meow. Kim Novak is one of my style icons. If you've never seen the film "Bell Book and Candle", watch it just for the clothes.
Weekend Eye Candy - Nina Ricci 1957
Floral print + evening gown = Love at first sight. Nina Ricci silk evening gown, 1957.
Meet Lois
After my post about the Look of Suits from 1955, Facebook fan Bonnie sent me these pictures and the story of her mom and dad. She has kindly given permission for me to share them with you here.
Lois Marie Cashell and Charles Berkeley Randall were married in November 1957. Lois was working as a hairdresser at Hochschild-Kohn, one of Baltimore's famous department stores at the time.
Because the wedding was small, with only immediate family in attendance for the service at St. James Lutheran Church, Lois chose to wear a suit instead of a wedding gown. She purchased the Glenhaven suit at Hochschild-Kohn, and remembers it was quite expensive, even with her employee discount!
I found this ad for a very similar Glenhaven suit from 1957. Glenhaven suits were of very high quality and made of the best fabrics. Lois's suit was made of Forstmann wool, one of the premier wool mills of the time.
Sadly, Charles passed away just months shy of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, but their children took Lois out to celebrate the date despite that fact. Amazingly, she was still able to fit into her wedding suit, and wore it along with the original hat, jewelry, and slip that she wore on her wedding day for the celebration. Isn't she beautiful?
Bonnie was kind enough to take some detailed photos of the suit for us.
Not only did the suit last all those years, it still looks stylish today! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures, Bonnie and Lois!
Vintage Hats - 1957
Jacques FathBy 1957, you can see that the shape of hats has changed. While the wide brimmed portrait hats are still popular, styles that fit closer to the head are very artistic and allow the wearer to express her personality in many ways. All of these are from 1957.
Jean Barthet
Claude St-Cyr
Rose Valois
Gerard Albouy
Legroux Soeurs
Vintage Fur Coats - 1957
If you're not averse to vintage fur, here are a few ideas for your holiday gift wish list. One of each, please, Santa!
Revillon stole in Empress Chinchilla fur.
Elsa Schiaparelli licensed black dyed Southwest African Persian lambwith removable white mink scarf.
Saga Norwegian blue fox capelet from Russeks Fifth Avenue.
Natural Royal Crown Russian sable by Maximillian. I love the way the soft focus of the photograph emulates the supreme softness of the sable fur.
Oh heck, why not just go for broke and wear an entire suit ofUmpa dark ranch mink fur designed by Fredrica.
Holiday Dresses - 1957
It's December and the holidays party season has arrived. What will you be wearing this year? Here are some pretty party dresses from a 1957 issue of Seventeen magazine.
White sheer nylon strapless dress accented with gold sequins at the bust. Maker unknown as the ad is for Dupont nylon. Isn't it pretty, though?
Left: Carole King dress has a black silk organza bodice with a flared silk and lurex skirt that was available in silver, blue, pink, or aqua with black stripes. Sold for $25.00 in 1957 (about $190.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Carole King dress with a black crepe bodice and cotton/silk print skirt in white, pink, or blue with black and gold. Sold for $25.00 in 1957 (about $190.00 in today's dollar).
Two strapless beauties by Dansant Originals. Both were available in white, pink, blue, aqua and red, and both sold for $50.00 in 1957 (about $379.00 in today's dollar).
Left: Taffeta drop waist strapless dress with rhinestone sprinkled lace at bust and hip.
Right: Layer upon layer of sheer nylon ruffles accented with iridescent braid.
Left: Shirley Lee sheer nylon chiffon layered over matching taffeta in coral rose, beige, black, or blue. Sold for $15.00 in 1957 (about $114.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Shirley Lee cotton/acetate brocade in yellow, antique white, pink or blue. Sold for $13.00 in 1957 (about $99.00 in today's dollar).
What to Wear Under a Low Back Dress - 1957
We've talked alot about the proper foundation garments to wear under your vintage dresses on this blog. With the holidays fast approaching and all the parties that come with them, it's time to think about the dress you'll wear and, more importantly, what foundation garments you'll wear under that dress. After all, there's nothing worse than putting on a dress an hour before a party and finding your bra shows!
This red satin dress by Anthony Blotta is from 1957. But what does our party-goer wear under that low-backed dress to get the proper shaping?
The dress was featured in an ad for this Warner's Merry Widow that has a matching low cut in the back. She still gets the bust support and slimming effect at the waist and hips while showing off that delicious bare back. (I can't figure out why the garters are shown on the outside of the crinoline slip. My guess is that it is for the advertising image to show that the Merry Widow comes with garters to use if you want to, but the slip would have to go on top.)
Also shown in the same ad was Warner's "Flexible-U" Merry Widow. The wire between the cups is flexible and you could simply press the U together or apart for any degree of decolletage.
The Flexible-U Merry Widow would have been perfect to wear under this Luis Estevez dress I recently sold with it's deeply cut slit in the front. By the way, both of these Merry Widows retailed for $25.00 in 1957 (about $190.00 in today's dollar). Proper foundations are not cheap!!
You'll notice that I've changed my banner to match the new streamlined and minimalist look at the Couture Allure website. How do you like it?
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