Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Adele Simpson's Turkish Delight Collection, 1963

Designer Adele Simpson, shown above, was age 60 when she designed her Turkish Delight Collection for spring, 1963.  Having just returned from world-wide travels, Simpson designed the collection around her time spent in Istanbul.

The collection included prints and embroideries inspired by treasures the designer purchased while in Turkey.

Fine silks, cottons, linens, and wools were used and evening gowns were elaborately beaded.

But all was not exotic.  Simpson was also inspired by her travels to create a collection of basic pieces that could be mixed-and-matched and worn for more than one occasion.  Above, a short tan coat of Moygashel linen is worn with a matching wrap skirt over a black silk matte jersey dress.  The dress is worn here as a shell, but can emerge from under the coat and skirt and be worn for cocktails or dinner later in the day.



Here, a 3-piece travel suit by Simpson in Barbacane, a newly introduced fabric from Staron that was a blend of silk and cotton woven to look like linen without the wrinkles.