Couture Allure Vintage Fashion

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Party Dresses and Hats

2012-01-29T06:45:00.000-05:00

New at Couture Allure this week are some lovely vintage party dresses and more hats from Mrs. Plankenhorn! Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest items!

1950s cream lace with pink lining dress, perfect for a wedding or prom!

1980s does 50s white taffeta party dress.

1950s silk roses dress.

1960s dress with floating drapes.

1960s pink roses hat.

1940s hat with elaborate silk ribbons.

Weekend Eye Candy - Pierre Cardin Diffusion, 1975

2012-01-28T07:24:00.002-05:00

Two evening gowns from Pierre Cardin's Diffusion line for spring 1975. Both gowns are made of brightly colored silks and, while vastly different, I love them both. How about you?

Lanvin-Castillo Dress - 1961

2012-01-27T07:40:00.002-05:00

Lanvin-Castillo makes evening sultry with many layers of sheer black silk marquisette. The matching silk boa was a big feature in their line for Spring 1961. This dress copied in America by Saks Fifth Avenue.

June Arden Dresses - 1949

2012-01-26T07:36:00.002-05:00

June Arden made budget dresses, but they sure don't look it, do they? Both are made of rayon shantung, perfect for the warmer days of summer. The dresses were available in misses and half sizes and sold for $9 in 1949 (about $86 in today's dollar.)

Mary Black Dress - 1961

2012-01-25T07:10:00.002-05:00

Designer Mary Black made this stunning silk chiffon dress exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman in 1961. Drapes drop from the shoulders and are attached to the skirt front. The dress was available in avocado green, beige and navy and came in sizes 10-20. Sold in 1961 for $215 (about $1628 in today's dollar.)

Talmack Silk Dress - 1956

2012-01-24T07:07:00.002-05:00

The Mattie Talmack name is largely forgotten today, but Mr. Talmack's design house produced some gorgeous dresses. Likely designed by John Moore, this paisley silk shantung sheath dress is adorned with elaborate frog closures over the side zipper. Apricot and pink are touched with gold metallic threads. Sold for $100 in 1956 (about $832 in today's dollar.)

Mainbocher Evening Gown - 1963

2012-01-23T07:07:00.005-05:00

This Mainbocher couture evening gown is from the spring of 1963. White silk crepe is printed with a black geometric pattern. I adore the mix of a casual print with a formal dress. The gown has a high neckline and short train in the back. Made to order only in Mainbocher's couture salon in New York.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses for Spring

2012-01-22T06:45:00.000-05:00

New at Couture Allure this week are more fabulous daytime and cocktail dresses for spring. Be sure to check our What's New pages for all the latest items!

1960s appliqued roses sheath dress

1960s gold metallic dress and jacket

1950s silk floral full skirt dress

1950s lace illusion bombshell dress

1950s silk sheath dress

1950s pink linen full skirt dress

Weekend Eye Candy - Guy Laroche, 1966

2012-01-21T07:14:00.003-05:00

Guy Laroche brings op art to evening wear with the use of black and white sequins. Notice how he accents the waist with the use of the size of the diamonds and how the pattern swirls from there. I'm pretty sure I would faint if I found this dress today.

Larry Aldrich Dress - 1951

2012-01-20T07:26:00.002-05:00

Larry Aldrich jumps into the New Look in 1951 with this dress made of black rayon faille. The full skirt is pleated onto a dropped waist and measures 4 yards around at the hem. Sold for $50 in 1951 (about $435 in today's dollar.)

Jane Derby Dress - 1964

2012-01-19T06:58:00.007-05:00

Jane Derby was a designer of high end ready-to-wear. Oscar de la Renta took over design duties at the company in 1965 right before Derby's death. This dress from the spring of 1964 is likely one of her last designs. The simple sheath dress with matching overblouse are fashioned of lilac cotton blend cloqué. Sold for $125 in 1964 (about $913 in today's dollar.) The fantastical hat is by Emme.

Jonathan Logan Dress - 1949

2012-01-18T07:31:00.002-05:00

Jonathan Logan designer Dorris Varnum used rayon taffeta with black velvet flocked dots for this dress in 1949. Available in tropic blue, vibrant red and jewel green. Sold for $12.95 in 1949 (about $123 in today's dollar.)

Dior Couture Dresses - 1956

2012-01-17T06:56:00.002-05:00

Two stunning evening dresses from Christian Dior's couture line for Spring 1956.
At left: While silk faille strapless dress is gathered into a bow-knot at the bust. Copied in the U.S. by Henri Bendel, Julius Garfinckel, I. Magnin and Wanamaker's.
At right: Black silk faille dinner dress with a high waist bow and criss-crossed pleats in the skirt. Copied in the U.S. by Bergdorf Goodman and I. Magnin.

Mainbocher Dress - 1954

2012-01-16T07:23:00.005-05:00

Couture genius Mainbocher designed this double skirted evening dress in 1954. Fashioned of cotton in a pastel floral print, the halter neckline is perfect for a hot summer night. Made-to-order couture in Mainbocher's New York salon.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses for Spring

2012-01-15T06:48:00.000-05:00

This week at Couture Allure we've added more wonderful dresses for spring. I seem to have a love for shades of green and blue right now! Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest items. And to update you on my travels, I'm nearly halfway through my trip and have found some wonderful vintage things for the website. I should do this more often, as I"m having a blast! I've been posting pictures on my Facebook page of some of my finds and of some of the places I've been searching. Check it out!

1970s Vera cotton caftan

1970s Polly Hornburg silk dress

1950s Kay Windsor cotton dress

1960s beaded silk cocktail dress

1950s silk satin party dress

1960s Originala linen dress

Weekend Eye Candy - Givenchy, 1956

2012-01-14T07:03:00.003-05:00

I don't need to say much. Just take a deep breath and let it out slowly as you take in the masterful details of this strapless evening gown by Hubert de Givenchy from Spring 1956.

Junior Circle Dress - 1956

2012-01-13T07:02:00.003-05:00

The thing to notice here is the stripes. See how perfectly they are matched at each gore seam in the skirt? It used to be that companies took pride in the construction of their garments. Even a budget line like Junior Circle took care when sewing together a pretty dress. Cotton dress from 1956 in pink, blue, beige or green stripes on white. Sold for $23.00 in 1956 (about $191.00 in today's dollar.)

Patrick de Barentzen Dress - 1961

2012-01-12T06:43:00.007-05:00

My oh my, I would not have guessed this dress was as early as 1961, but those Italian designers tend to surprise me quite frequently. This dress by Patrick de Barentzen is fashioned of black and white silk shantung. The back is held together with a black ribbon. Originally came with a matching jacket (but of course!) Even though the dress is backless, the woman who wore it would not have gone bra-less. Not in 1961! Either she is wearing a backless corset or the dress has one built into it.

B.H. Wragge Playsuit - 1958

2012-01-11T07:20:00.002-05:00

Take a little playsuit to wear at the beach or pool and make it infinitely more versatile by adding a matching skirt. B.H. Wragge offered this ensemble in 1958. Made of silk crash, the playsuit is aqua and the skirt is aqua, pink and lilac. Sold for $70 in 1958 (about $591 in today's dollar.)

Henri Bendel Dress - 1949

2012-01-10T07:27:00.002-05:00

The description of this dress by Henri Bendel Young-Timers from 1949 does much more for it than the black and white photo. "Young-Timers brighten summer evenings with an iridescent rayon chiffon in the dark glowing green and blue of the sea...the draped bodice, shoulder to shoulder decolletage and flowing longer-then-skirt-length panels hinting of autumn fashions in the making." Blue and green! Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Sold for $49.95 in 1949 (about $475 in today's dollar.)

Anne Klein Dress - 1969

2012-01-09T06:50:00.004-05:00

Anne Klein started her own line in 1968, so this dress of hers, from the spring of 1969, is one of the earliest with her label. Huge black dots on white acetate/rayon crepe make quite a statement. Sold in the Anne Klein Corner at Saks Fifth Avenue for $85 (about $524 in today's dollar.)

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses for Spring

2012-01-08T05:42:00.000-05:00

At Couture Allure, we're looking ahead to spring with lots of lovely vintage dresses in pretty floral prints and cottons. Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1960s silk chiffon with shoulder drape.

1950s Rappi pink tulle strapless dress.

1980s 50s style cotton full skirt dress.

1950s floral taffeta full skirt dress.

1970s pop art floral cotton dress.

1950s plus size cotton full skirt dress.

Weekend Eye Candy - Elsa Schiaparelli, 1949

2012-01-07T06:56:00.004-05:00

Elsa Schiaparelli constructed this incredible evening gown from black taffeta in 1949. I use the word constructed in a literal sense because if ever there was an evening gown that could be called architectural, this is it.

Adele Simpson Dress - 1954

2012-01-06T07:17:00.002-05:00

No description other than stunning! It looks like this dress is made from a jacquard weave fabric and it has sparkling glints of something. Perhaps metallic threads, perhaps rhinestones, perhaps sequins or beads. By Adele Simpson in 1954.

Mollie Parnis Dress - 1949

2012-01-05T06:51:00.002-05:00

Designer Mollie Parnis takes a simple shirtwaist style and makes it more formal by using silk twill in navy with red polka dots. Love that graceful rounded collar. Sold for $70 in 1949 (about $665 in today's dollar.)

Vera Neumann Dress - 1967

2012-01-04T06:40:00.004-05:00

I love me some Vera, and I would snatch this dress from 1967 right up if I found it. A simple sheath in Ban-Lon nylon, it is shown bloused a bit by way of the tie sash at the waist. Sold for $26 in 1967 (about $176 in today's dollar.) The hair? Not so much. And are those necklaces posing as earrings?

Henry Rosenfeld Dress - 1955

2012-01-03T07:09:00.002-05:00

I want this dress. Or maybe I want to be her with those fabulous sunglasses and chandelier earrings holding a bouquet of flowers from my lover and about to board a boat to Rome. No, it's the dress I want. Bright cotton print in pale green, black, and red on a yellow background. The black and white photo gives the illusion of a bare midriff, but the solid portion at her waist is yellow.
Dress by Henry Rosenfeld. Sold for $15 in 1955 (about $127 in today's dollar.)

Wesley Simpson Prints - 1943

2012-01-02T07:15:00.002-05:00

Both of these 1943 dresses are made from Enka Rayon in Wesley Simpson Custom Prints. Simpson worked with several top artists. This print of pretty hats was designed by Marcel Vertés. There is no indication who made the dresses, but they sold at leading department stores for $39.95 in 1943 (about $523.00 in today's dollar.)

Weekend Eye Candy - Nina Ricci, 1936

2011-12-31T06:39:00.005-05:00

What better way to greet the New Year than in a dress from the 1930s? Nina Ricci designed this metallic brocade gown in 1936. It is deep Persian blue with a multi-colored metallic design in the weave of the cloque fabric. Whatever you decide to wear tonight, have fun, stay safe, and party like it's 2012!

Lanvin-Castillo Dress - 1958

2011-12-30T07:15:00.005-05:00

Bergdorf Goodman offered this copy of a Lanvin-Castillo design in their custom salon for Spring 1958. The dress was available in all white lace or white lace re-embroidered in gold or silver threads. Perfect for your New Year's celebration, no? Sold for $650 in 1958 (about $5,093 in today's dollar.)

Serbin Golfer - 1949

2011-12-29T06:47:00.001-05:00

Actress Jane Russell models a Serbin Golfer dress from 1949. Not only for sports, Serbin sold this dress for daytime around-the-house wear too. Versatility is the key here with a full length separating zipper hidden behind the fly front, sleeves than could unbutton for more room, a pleated back yoke for easy movement and removable shoulder pads. Made of striped cotton chambray. Sold for $12.95 in 1949 (about $123 in today's dollar.)

Adele Simpson Dress and Coat - 1956

2011-12-28T07:26:00.002-05:00

What could be better than a dress by Adele Simpson? How about one with a matching coat? Spatter print silk in Delphinium blue makes the dress and lines the blue wool coat. Sold for $275 in 1956 (about $2,289 in today's dollar.)

Oscar de la Renta Dress - 1967

2011-12-27T07:07:00.002-05:00

Here in Boston, we've been blessed with relatively mild temperatures for the past couple of months. (Did I just jinx it?) That doesn't mean I don't long for tropical temperatures and warm ocean breezes. This 1967 dress by Oscar de la Renta is perfect for enjoying those fantasies. And a long orange beaded necklace as an ankle bracelet? Why not?

Road Trip!

2011-12-26T07:07:00.001-05:00

My dears, I am very excited! I am headed out on a 6-week cross country road trip that will take me through at least 12 states in my search for vintage clothing to bring to you. Along the way, I'll see old friends, travel old roads and have some good old times. I'll be poking into antique shops, flea markets and thrift stores. I'll be making house calls and digging in attics. And I'll be shipping loads of wonderful vintage goodies back to our offices that will be coming to the website starting in February.

My staff will continue to list new items on the website while I'm away, but we'll only be shipping once a week from now through February 6.

For the blog? I'll be showing one fabulous dress per day for the next 6 weeks. There are some real drool-worthy beauties coming for you. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T05:46:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas, dear readers. May the joy of the season be with you today.

Weekend Eye Candy - Paul Poiret, 1929

2011-12-24T06:34:00.000-05:00

I finally got to see "Midnight in Paris" yesterday. It has now taken it's place in the list of my top 10 movies of all time. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend this wonderful, wonderful film. After watching the movie, I am inspired to bring you a dress from the 1920s today. Paul Poiret designed this beauty in 1929. It is red crepe with gold embroidery. You certainly could wear it to hang with Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald!

Friday Fur - Lanvin, 1948

2011-12-23T06:58:00.004-05:00

There are furs, and then there are furs. This full length silver fox fur coat by Jeanne Lanvin from 1948 is certain to cover even the most voluminous ballgown. Winter winds be damned!

The Office Christmas Party

2011-12-22T06:56:00.001-05:00

Having an office Christmas party today? Remember, he won't look nearly as handsome after the punch wears off, dear.

This Public Service Announcement brought to you by Couture Allure.

Les Bijoux - 1980s

2011-12-21T07:12:00.000-05:00

Still dreaming!

Mouauad, 1980

M. Gerard, 1982

Boucheron, 1985

Van Cleef & Arpels, 1987

Yves St. Laurent, 1988

Les Bijoux - 1950s

2011-12-20T06:55:00.001-05:00

Because every girl is allowed to dream, isn't she?

Cartier, 1950

Van Cleef and Arpels, 1955

Cartier, 1957

Mauboussin, 1959

Boucheron, 1962

Tom Brigance Playsuit - 1955

2011-12-19T07:08:00.023-05:00

Yes, 1955. Most of you were very close and congrats to Val and Lauriana who guessed the year correctly!

Tom Brigance was a well known designer of American sportswear. He worked in London for Jaeger before coming to New York in 1939 as the in-house designer for Lord & Taylor. He was noted for his use of soft draping, unusual fabrics, and interesting prints. He was absent from the design world from 1942-47 while he served in the war. Upon his return, he once again designed for Lord & Taylor, until he announced his resignation in March of 1949 to join Charles Nudelman. He didn't stay long, however, as by 1951, Brigance was the exclusive designer at Frank Gallant. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s Brigance designed for several manufacturers including Sportsmaker, Gabar and Sinclair as well as under his own name. He retired in the late 1970s and died on October 14, 1990.

The cute playsuit shown above was designed under Brigance's own label in 1955. This is actually two pieces: a short play dress with matching bloomers made of Mooreville cotton plaid. This would have been worn on the beach, by the pool, or perhaps for boating. It was far too short to go into town in 1955! Note how the bottom two buttons of the dress are left daringly unbuttoned for the photo. The ad calls this a "Miniature dress." Sold for $25 in 1955 (about $211 in today's dollar.)

Weekend Eye Candy - Mme Gres, 1957

2011-12-17T06:02:00.000-05:00

Need a little something to knock 'em dead on New Year's Eve? How about this silk satin evening gown with matching hooded cloak by Mme. Gres from 1957? In my dreams!

Guess the Date

2011-12-16T07:27:00.001-05:00

It's time to play Guess the Date again! What year is this cute playsuit from? Answer on Monday!

Norman Norell Bubble Dress - 1957

2011-12-15T07:34:00.016-05:00

Traina-Norell, 1957

Norman Norell was the designer of this bubble dress in 1957 for the Traina-Norell label. Anthony Traina was Norell's financial backer. He died in 1958 and Norell took over the company and changed the label to simply Norman Norell about 1960. Richard Avedon took this photo of Norell's bubble dress and I have to assume that the dress is puffed up with air or stuffed with something to give it this round shape. It's likely there are slits for the arms hidden in there somewhere and when the dress was worn in a normal fashion the bubble silhouette was far less severe.

I normally associate Norman Norell with the "ladies who lunch" crowd and his design esthetic in the 60s and 70s certainly fit that mold. But Norell was a master of stunning cocktail and evening dresses and his work in the 40s and 50s included some incredible, incredible designs. Here are a few more examples of his earlier work.

1951

circa 1955 from the Met Museum Costume Collection

1949

That bubble dress at the top is not the only wacky design Norell ever did. Take a close look at this dress from the 1950s. Do my eyes deceive me or is this actually a split skirt with two huge harem pant legs?

circa 1950s from the Indianapolis Museum of Art costume collection

And take a close look at this evening gown from 1949. Those are satin harem pants under the lace skirt.

1949

Guess the Date, Guess the Designer

2011-12-14T06:53:00.007-05:00

I won't make you guess that this is a dress. I have no idea where her arms are or where they are supposed to be. I have no idea if this is the true shape of the dress or if it has been "puffed" up with air or stuffing for the photo. Yes, it's a bit whacky, but can you guess the date? How about the designer? Answer tomorrow!

Where do you think her arms are supposed to go?

What We Were Wearing - Fall 1941

2011-12-13T07:31:00.003-05:00

Here's a look at what women were wearing 70 years ago this month. America had just entered WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. While L-85 restrictions were not yet in force, fabric shortages and the needs of war did influence fashion. Hem lengths became shorter and there was less volume in silhouettes. American designers were beginning to lead the world in new fashion trends as the Paris couture lost contact with the rest of the world. Nylon and wool were needed for the war effort and Japanese silk was banned in the U.S., so a relatively new fabric known as rayon became the choice for most women's clothing.

Shorter hemlines are visible in dresses and skirts as well as jackets. Fancy decorative touches like ruffles, pleats and tucks are starting to disappear as they require more fabric.

Coats are also shorter and cut with less volume. Even double breasted styles will go away after the L-85 restrictions are put in place in 1943. Here you can see the beginnings of the padded shoulders that give a masculine appearance in support of the military.

Clothing becomes more utilitarian. Basic skirts and blouses are worn for everyday wear.

In contrast to the severe look of most clothing, hats become more ostentatious. High peaked hats are popular.....

....as are tilt hats that are worn forward over the brow.

Shoes become more utilitarian as well with thick sturdy heels.

Rubber will be needed for the war effort, so girdles made with Lastex start to appear. Lastex was made from latex. Stockings are now made of nylon instead of silk. Soon, they will become scarce due to nylon being used for parachutes for our soldiers.

How to Wear a Vintage Fur Stole

2011-12-12T06:47:00.000-05:00

I recently received a question from Erin over at Fashion is Danger asking for advice on how to wear her vintage mink stoles. Erin wrote, "I have two (yes, two!) vintage mink stoles of the kind with the heads, feet and tails on them....I can't figure out HOW to wear them. Both have little bakelite chains of 3-4 links, ending in a cord-wrapped bead with a snap in it-- it seems like these are used to fasten the collars. They also "bite" each other on the tail, via a clip built into their mouths. Finally, on some of the feet (!) there are cord-wrapped beads with snaps. In short, there are a whole lotta ways to fasten the little critters, but no matter what I do, it ends up looking weird; I end up with a head or a foot or a tail in a bizarre position."

Erin the best way I can answer this is to just give you pictures to look at. All those clips and snaps are meant to give you versatility in how you wear your stole. Don't forget, you can wrap it more than once, you can just drape it over your arm or your shoulder, or you can clip it to your lapel, your belt, a pocket, your handbag or your collar. Keep experimenting!

Check out the little face on her hat!

Two feet clipped together

This is probably 5 pelts, but they are just draped nicely around the neck.

Clip under the face attached to fur on the other end.

Clipped to her belt then wrapped around the shoulders.

Probably clipped to her collar on the side, then wrapped completely around and allowed to fall.

No need to watch all 14 minutes of this video. In the first few, you'll see Barbara Stanwyck in "Ladies They Talk About" from 1933. Take a look at how she has the heads of her stole are clipped to the sleeves of her coat. Genius!

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior, 1947

2011-12-10T05:57:00.000-05:00

What better way to welcome the holidays than in a red satin evening gown all tied up with a big bow? Christian Dior, 1947.

Friday Fur - Revillon, 1951

2011-12-09T06:38:00.002-05:00

Winter, 1951. Revillon Furs takes a simple black wool swing coat and ups the ante with a fitch fur lining edged in jaguar. Jaguar also forms the cuffs on the sleeves. Interesting mix of two furs, isn't it?

Jerry Parnis Dress - 1954

2011-12-08T07:06:00.002-05:00

Jerry Parnis was Mollie Parnis' sister. While not as well known as Mollie, Jerry was just as talented. Her favorite fabric to work with was cotton, which she used for both day and evening dresses. This dress from 1954 is simply superb. What I love most about it is that unusual neckline treatment, one I've never seen before. The black and white cotton print is accented with bands of white cotton pique. Jerry takes the pique band down the front neckline, but stops short of the deep decolletage and weaves it straight across. This adds a peek-a-boo effect that I adore. By the way, Formite was the brand name for the interfacing used in the dress.

We have a beautiful 1950s beaded cocktail dress by Jerry Parnis available at Couture Allure right now. And yes, it's made of cotton!

Jane Derby Suit - 1959

2011-12-07T07:16:00.002-05:00

Oh, little suit from 1959, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1. Your classic houndstooth check pattern in brown, black and white can be worn anywhere.
2. The self fringed edges at the jacket opening, neckline and sleeve cuffs add just the right amount of whimsy.
3. You're a dress, not a top and skirt. No constant tucking throughout the day.
4. Big buttons and a brown leather belt add interest and break up the checked pattern.
5. How could one not love an outfit designed by Jane Derby, designer of high-end ready-to-wear. The quality of construction is surely superb!

Let us also pay homage to the large leather travel bag by Mark Cross. I'd carry it as a tote today.....everywhere.

Meet Erin!

2011-12-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

Meet Erin of The Consummate Amateur. Erin made her suit from vintage wool fabric and a vintage pattern. She bought the vintage Vera scarf from Couture Allure to wear with it. See more details about Erin's creation of the suit in her blog post here. What a talented woman you are, Erin!

The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor

2011-12-05T07:07:00.005-05:00

Enjoy these wishes and dreams. The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor goes up for auction at Christie's New York next week. You can go and see the exhibition before the items are sold this week, but you must buy advance tickets. If you want to skip over the jewelry in the video (but I recommend you don't), the couture clothing starts about 6 minutes in. Le sigh.....

New at Couture Allure - Fabulous Vintage Hats!

2011-12-04T06:59:00.000-05:00

We have recently acquired a large collection of fabulous hats from the estate of Mrs. F. E. Plankenhorn of Williamsport, PA. Mrs. Plankenhorn's husband was the owner of the Penn Garment Co. and Plankenhorn Braid Works. As the wife of a man in the fashion business, it was Mrs. Plankenhorn's job to look stylish at all times. Her hat collection reflects this and over the next couple of weeks, we'll be offering her marvelous hats here at Couture Allure.

1930s Phil Strann hat with ostrich plume

1940s Germain Montabert velvet with feathers

1940s purple velvet tilt hat

1950s sculpted velvet cocktail hat

1940s pink tilt hat with roses

1940s tilt hat with roses and veiling

Weekend Eye Candy - Givenchy, 1962

2011-12-03T05:26:00.000-05:00

This sumptuous evening gown by Givenchy is from 1962. The bodice is covered in pink, blue and silver sequins which sets off the rose pink silk satin skirt to perfection. Audrey Hepburn was Givenchy's muse and I can certainly see her wearing this gown, can't you?

Friday Fur - Emeric Partos, 1966

2011-12-02T07:27:00.002-05:00

It's our old friend Emeric Partos again! From 1966, Partos uses Emperor Chinchilla to fashion a cape, matching skirt, coiled tall hat and mittens. Just what every girl needs when wandering through a field of snow.

Jeweled Eyeglasses - 1955

2011-12-01T06:56:00.002-05:00

Let me preface this by saying sorry for the blurriness of these photos. I've blown them up several times so you can hopefully see the details. There are many of us who just have to wear eyeglasses. I say, if you have to you might as well make them noticeable! These Harlequin brand cat's eye glasses from 1955 all feature jeweled accents. Aren't they fun?

Above: Rhinestones accent the corners and then continue all along the temple piece.

A pink and white jeweled butterfly accents one corner of the eyeglasses. And why not wear another in your hair?

Rhinestones accent the corners and sprays of leaves and tendrils extend along the temple and into the hair. Wow! Definitely a "going to the opera" pair of glasses!

Debutante of the Year - 1947

2011-11-30T06:46:00.002-05:00

Do you recognize her? It's Jacqueline Bouvier wearing a $59 off-the-rack dress in 1947. In 6 years she would be the wife of Senator John F. Kennedy and in another 7 she would be First Lady. Do you think she had any idea of what was to come behind that smile?

Couture Stripes

2011-11-29T07:25:00.002-05:00

If you've ever sewn with stripes, you know what a masterpiece this dress and jacket ensemble is. Made by Paris couturier Marie-Louise Bruyere in 1955, the workmanship here astounds me. Bruyere insets horizontally striped panels between the vertically striped ones from neckline to hips. Each piece would have been individually cut by a master cutter to keep the stripes straight on the pattern piece. Then each piece would have been fitted and sewn with extreme care to keep the stripes straight. Those long vertical darts that give shape to the dress do not extend through the horizontally striped bands. I cannot imagine the amount of hours it took to construct this marvel of design. It's pure genius!

Forgotten Designer Mary Black

2011-11-28T07:03:00.016-05:00

1954

When perusing Vogue or Harper's Bazaar magazines from the 1950s, in the first few pages you are most likely to see ads from Bergdorf Goodman, Lilli Ann, Bonwit Teller, Saks Fifth Avenue, Emba Mink and Vanity Fair. Amongst those ads from well-known names, you will quite often see a full page ad for a dress from Mary Black. I know......who? I've never found a dress with the Mary Black label and I've often wondered about this forgotten designer. This week I was determined to dig up more information about her. There is not much to go on, but with the help of fellow VFG member Lynne, here is what we found.

1954

Mary Black was a London designer who started her business sometime in the 1930s. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1940-41, probably because of the war. In July of 1941, Mary Black of London leased showroom and salon space on W. 47th St. in New York. In addition to welcoming exclusive clients at her salon, Mary Black dresses were also sold at fine specialty shops and high end department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and I. Magnin. In 1947, her dresses sold for $80 - $400 (about $812 - $4,060 in today's dollar.)

1955

In late 1951, Mary Black of London moved her business to the 10th floor of 18 East 50th St. in New York City. She maintained a personal apartment there as well. On July 29, 1954, Mary was wed to Nichlas Baciu in a civil ceremony. She continued in business until at least the early 1960s.

1956

As a designer, Black preferred simple lines without an excess of decoration. She felt that women preferred to adorn their dresses with their own jewelry and so would avoid the use of buttons, rhinestones etc. She would often use simple bows or flowers, but always made them removable. She did not like belts and would only offer a belt if a store or customer insisted. She felt a belt ruined the lines of a dress.

1957

Black often traveled to Europe to buy the expensive fabrics used in her dresses. As we can see in the ads shown here, she liked to use lace for evening wear.

1958

In 1960, Mary Black made a cocktail dress for Bergdorf Goodman that was offered in sizes 10-40 (yes, that's size 40.) It was a simple tiered sheath with a draped capelet caught at the back with a single rose and came in black or navy. The dress sold for about $245 in 1960 (that's $1,874 in today's dollar.) Bergdorf's offered the dress to appeal to the larger sized woman who wanted the more stylish designs usually only available to the size 10 figure.

Thank you to The Spectrum Vintage for allowing me to show you a Mary Black dress that they sold years ago. Isn't it a beauty?

Please note: This biography about Mary Black is copyright of Couture Allure and may not be copied without permission.

Free Shipping at Couture Allure!

2011-11-27T09:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from Couture Allure!

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING ONE WEEK ONLY!

As a special thank you, we're happy to offer free standard shipping worldwide through Saturday, December 3. Use coupon code "freeship" at checkout and your shipping cost will be automatically deducted!

Note: Some U.S. orders will ship via First Class Mail or Parcel Post instead of Priority Mail during this promotion. Please allow extra time for delivery.

Free shipping is limited to First Class International Mail for international orders. International orders that must ship via Global Priority or Global Express Mail are excluded from this offer.

Offer does not apply to previous orders and expires at midnight Eastern time on Saturday, December 3.

SHOP COUTURE ALLURE NOW!

Weekend Eye Candy - Erik Schaix, 1988

2011-11-26T05:09:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't you love to wear this as your Christmas dress? Designed by Erik Schaix in 1988, the dress is fashioned of white tulle and is adorned with 3-dimensional embroidered strawberries. Erik Schaix is still in business today on the rue Saint Florentin in Paris. He designs custom couture and ready-to-wear clothing and accessories.

Enjoy Today the Old Fashioned Way

2011-11-25T07:36:00.005-05:00

When did this become what Thanksgiving is all about? Instead, I hope you'll enjoy today in other ways that have some meaning.

Spend time with your family.

Sit down and watch your kids at play. Even better, get down on the floor and play with them.

Warm your tootsies by a cozy fire.

Play a game of cards with grandma.

Read a book or two.

Take a long walk in the woods.

Enjoy some leftovers.

Continue to give thanks.

I'm Thankful

2011-11-24T07:10:00.002-05:00

Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. It's a day when we stop to think about all the things in our lives that we're thankful for. Today, I am thankful for you.

I'm thankful for all my dear readers who come here each day to share a bit of my world.

I'm thankful for the online friends I've made who also enjoy vintage fashion.

I'm thankful that I have a place to share things the that I am passionate about.

I'm thankful that you "get" me, that you understand, and that you love the same things I do.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Going to Grandma's

2011-11-23T07:08:00.007-05:00

Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US. Today will be one of the busiest travel days of the year. So whether you're going to grandma's by car,

by train,

by ship,

or by plane,

please travel safely!

Paris Couture - 1938

2011-11-22T07:01:00.004-05:00

Let's get back to our series on Paris couture from the 1930s. Today, a look at evening gowns from 1938. Which is your favorite?

Mainbocher uses gold lamé for the bodice of this bias-cut gown. The matching cape is completely lined in lamé as well. What an entrance maker!

Callot Soeurs gown in heavy Duchesse satin. The bodice is red and the skirt is gray. The waist and shoulders are covered in diamante rhinestones. Note the corded hem.

Madeleine Vionnet halter gown in black silk velvet accented with red and purple flowers.

Lucien Lelong blue velvet one-shoulder gown with sapphire buttons down the side.

Germaine Lecomte strapless gown in red tulle with red and silver lace insets.

Nina Ricci black and gold velvet. Note the perfect placement of the gold diamond design.

Marie-Paule black silk taffeta gown with rows of ruffles adorning the skirt.

Holiday Party Dresses - 1954

2011-11-21T07:28:00.002-05:00

As the holiday party season approaches, have you given thought to what you'll wear to all those special events? Please tell me you're not considering jeans when you can dress up your surroundings in vintage! Today's looks are from 1954.

Bergdorf Goodman dress in silk lamé. The lamé was offered in silvery pink or blue, but you could also have the dress made in silk satin in gold, blue or pink. No black! Sold for $135 in 1954 (about $1,136 in today's dollar.)

Filcol strapless crystal pleated silk organdy dress worn with a white velveteen coat embroidered in blue and silver. Set sold for $200 in 1954 (about $1,683 in today's dollar.)

Harvey Berin pale pink satin strapless ballgown. Sold for $180 in 1954 (about $1,515 in today's dollar.)

Adele Simpson dress in brown lace layered over cafe-au-lait lining. Satin bands encircle the neckline and tie at the shoulders. Sold for $265 in 1954 (about $2,231 in today's dollar.)

Hannah Troy black Chantilly lace dress with bands of satin and tiers of netting. Sold for $175 in 1954 (about $1,473 in today's dollar.)

What are you wearing to your holiday parties this year?

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Hats and the End of Fall

2011-11-20T08:24:00.000-05:00

This week at Couture Allure we've added several vintage fur hats and the last of our items from this year's fall/winter collection. Coming soon will be loads of vintage goodies for holiday gift giving, including scarves and jewelry. Be sure to check our What's New pages to see all the latest listings!

1930s broadtail lamb tilt hat

50s black faille princess coat

70s Eugenia Santambrogio rayon blouse and skirt

60s Chester Weinberg orange dress with lion's head buckle

60s Malcolm Charles metallic dress and coat

70s Saks wool gabardine pant suit

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga, 1951

2011-11-19T07:34:00.002-05:00

Yet another simply gorgeous gown for your holiday dreams. This strapless black velvet gown has a mermaid hem filled with layers of white tulle. I've always had a soft spot for this style of dress because I had the Solo in the Spotlight dress for my first Barbie.

Friday Fur - Chanel, 1934

2011-11-18T07:13:00.003-05:00

Leave it to Coco. Here she takes a simple brown wool coat and turns it into a face framing beauty with a huge sable fur collar and matching trim at the sleeve cuffs. Even the little hat is sable. Photo from 1934. By the way, if you've been looking for a sable hat, we've got one for sale at Couture Allure. Check it out!

Silver Shines for Evening - 1966

2011-11-17T07:08:00.000-05:00

Silver was the choice for evening wear in 1966. Not gold, not copper, not bronze, but silver, silver everywhere. Accessories were silver too: shoes, evening bags, stockings and jewelry. Makeup glinted with silver in lipsticks and eye shadows. Shimmering, shiny silver was everywhere.

Anne Fogarty

Lynn Stuart mylar blend jeans and shirt with Golo booties.

Norman Norell

Galanos caftan with beaded sleeve cuffs

Teal Traina silver ribbons on sheer organza

Pat Sandler

Joan Arkin

Would you wear any of these looks today? Which would you choose?

Style Statements - Animal Print and Vintage Muffs

2011-11-16T07:05:00.002-05:00

1951

How do you take a simple gray wool suit into the stratosphere? Add some animal print in your accessories! Just the hint of print in the scarf she has tucked inside the jacket neckline makes the suit more interesting. Add an animal print handbag and you've tied it all together. I wonder what her shoes look like? They could be animal print, but it's more likely they are gray or black.

Muffs like this one were popular from the 30s to the 50s. They are a great way to keep your hands warm when the winter wind blows. Most have hidden zipper pockets so you can carry your I.D., some money and your lipstick. I'll bet you could even fit your cellphone in there. And who needs more than that when you want to make a style statement? We've got a couple of muffs available at Couture Allure right now. Check them out!

Helene Scott - Maternity Designer

2011-11-15T07:09:00.002-05:00

Helene Scott started in the fashion industry as a model. When she became pregnant with her first child, she started designing her own maternity clothing. She received many positive comments about her designs and decided to start her own business. These photos are from a two page advertisement by Celanese in 1956. Scott used Celanese acetate fabrics to make adaptations of European fashion for the American maternity market. This is how the fashionable woman who was expecting dressed for evening in 1956.

Above: Scott's adaptation of a suit by Miguel Dorian of Spain. The silk/acetate blend cape suit is matched with a striped blouse. Sold for $60 in 1956 (about $500 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a design by Simonetta. Acetate satin dress with back pleats and belt. Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $417 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Givenchy evening gown in acetate satin. Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $584 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Sybil Connolly tiered dress in sheer acetate/nylon chiffon. Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $417 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Norman Hartnell cocktail dress in black acetate crepe with white lace. Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $334 in today's dollar.)

What We Were Wearing - Fall 1951

2011-11-14T07:27:00.006-05:00

Here is what women were wearing 60 years ago this month.

After being introduced 3 years previous by Dior, full skirted dresses and skirts are now becoming popular and worn for everyday wear by most women. The skirts are more bell-shaped than the full circles that will become stylish in a few years. Most are worn without crinolines for daytime.

Every woman had a basic suit in her closet to wear in town, for meetings with professionals, for shopping in the city, or for dinner at a fancy restaurant.

For more casual daytime wear, a skirt with a blouse, sweater or twin set was the way to go. Pants were rarely worn by women, and if they were it was strictly for work around the house or farm.

Princess line and swing coats were the newest styles that came about to accommodate the fuller skirts, but many women also wore simple straight coats.

Most women had or wanted a fur jacket or stole in their closets. For those who could not afford expensive options like mink or fox, there were many made from less costly furs like marmot, mouton and rabbit.

Full skirted styles were popular for evening and cocktail wear.

Evening gowns were elaborate with draped skirts and trains with rich satins being most popular.

No matter who you were, you rarely left the house bare headed. Hats were a fashion necessity.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Party Dresses

2011-11-13T06:26:00.000-05:00

New this week at Couture Allure are lots of vintage party dresses and evening gowns perfect for your holiday celebrations. Be sure to check our What's New pages to see all the latest listings!

1960s Helen Rose silk party dress

1990s Bill Blass camisole and skirt

1980s Alfred Angelo ball gown with shrug

1960s emerald silk dress and coat set

1990s Arnold Scaasi black lace cocktail dress

1960s metallic pink cocktail dress

Weekend Eye Candy - Pierre Balmain, 1948

2011-11-12T07:18:00.000-05:00

Pierre Balmain designed this red velvet gown with attached train for his Fall/Winter 1948 couture collection. What a way to celebrate the season!

Friday Fur - Balenciaga, 1954

2011-11-11T06:59:00.002-05:00

Balenciaga designed this blouson shaped jacket in 1954. The fur is civet which has an interesting pattern of black and white. There are dozens of different civet species, some of which are now on the endangered species list.

Last Chance Sale at Couture Allure!

2011-11-10T05:53:00.000-05:00

It's our famous Last Chance Sale! Now through Monday, November 14 you can grab an incredible vintage bargain at Couture Allure! It's time to make room for new merchandise arriving for Spring 2012 and we need to clear the racks. All items in our Last Chance sale are priced at $50.00 or less. The sale includes everything from dresses to suits to coats to evening gowns. What are you waiting for? Go claim your bargain today!

1940s gabardine suit, now just $50!

1940s sheer voile dress, now just $50!

1970s cotton Bohemian age dress, now just $50!

1960s Persian lamb trimmed coat, now just $50!

1970s chiffon dress, now just $50!

1980s stunning beaded gown, now just $50!

Vintage Hairstyles for Evening - 1965

2011-11-09T06:36:00.000-05:00

In 1965, women would spend hours at the hairdresser before a big event. Hairstyles were BIG, the bigger the better. It took a lot of hairspray to make a look like this stay in place all night. And it took a lot of shampoo to get all that hairspray out the next day. Even so, it's a lot of fun to wear a hairstyle like this. I hope these images from 1965 inspire you to do something special with your hair for your holiday parties!

Yes, that's Catherine Deneuve

Don't have enough hair for a big hairstyle? You could always use feathers.......

Meet Sue!

2011-11-08T06:11:00.000-05:00

Sue bought this 1960s Pat Sandler wool dress and jacket set from Couture Allure a while back. She wore it for a girl's night out last weekend. I love the way she has combined vintage and modern to make a completely unique outfit that really, really works. Thank you for sharing Sue!

1960s Pat Sandler dress and jacket set from Couture Allure.

Here's the dress without the jacket.

Does Sue inspire you to mix vintage with your modern wardrobe?

Glam and Glitz for evening - 1967

2011-11-07T06:35:00.000-05:00

Let's party like it's 1967! Required - one sparkly dress, glitter stockings, metallic shoes, and big hair.

Geoffrey Beene dress with sequins and mirrors.

Malcolm Starr royal blue dress with cuffs and hem in paillettes, wooden beads and crystals. Sold for $265 in 1967 (about $1692 in today's dollar).

Saks Fifth Avenue private label burnout velvet. Sold for $145 in 1967 (about $926 in today's dollar).

Leslie Fay chiffon dress with back drape. Sold for $36 in 1967 (about $230 in today's dollar).

All from Stix Baer & Fuller, St. Louis' high end department store. Two sparkly mini dresses sold for $40 each in 1967 (about $255 in today's dollar) and the metallic stripe dress with matching coat sold for $225 in 1967 (about $1436 in today's dollar).

It's not too late to get your own 1960's party dress for this holiday season! We've got loads of them at Couture Allure! Go take a look! Big hair not included.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Designer Party Dresses

2011-11-06T06:40:00.000-05:00

New at Couture Allure are more party dresses for the holidays! We've added several designer pieces this week as well. Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1940s WWII era black velvet dress

1990s Arnold Scaasi Boutique lace dress

1960s metallic brocade dress and coat set

One of several illusion dresses this week.

1990s Sophie Sitbon avant garde dress

1950s Henri Bendel custom silk dress

Weekend Eye Candy - Jean Patou, 1954

2011-11-05T06:59:00.000-04:00

It's not too early to think about what you'll be wearing to holiday parties this year. While most of us don't have formal galas or red carpet events to attend, we can dream. Jean Patou designed this silk satin ballgown in 1954. The voluminous skirt is gathered into a buckle at the waist.

And the Winner !s...

2011-11-04T06:30:00.000-04:00

In order to determine the winner of the Halloween Costume Contest, I went back and assigned numbers to the entries in the order they were posted to the blog. I then entered those numbers into the random number generator at Random.org.

And the winner is.......

...Sarah of That Damn Green Dress for her Rapunzel costume! Congrats, Sarah! Enjoy using your gift certificate at Couture Allure!

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Your creativity inspired us all! I can't wait to do this again next year!

Costume Contest Entries #4

2011-11-03T07:09:00.001-04:00

Here are the final entries in this year's Halloween Costume Contest. The contest is now closed and the winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced here on the blog tomorrow. Good luck to all the entrants and thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

21. Nabby of http://nabbysvintagelife.blogspot.com/ as Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The boots, hat and goggles are vintage and the rest was hand made by Nabby.

22. Tiffany as a flapper.

23. Johnny Schaffer and friend. Johnny says, "We are wearing all vintage clothing that I own. The only thing not vintage is our shoes and my shirt."

24. Renata as a flapper. She made the feather fascinator herself.

25. Yvonne Lambert of http://www.theoctopusproject.com/ dressed as Yoko Ono AND John Lennon. Yvonne says, " My costume was inspired by Annie Liebovitz's famous 1980 Rolling Stone cover photo. I made the giant fetal-looking John Lennon "doll" myself, using several yards of muslin, 8lbs of stuffing, and a wig. The only vintage item I am actually wearing are my black suede 60's/70's go-go boots which, sadly, did not end up in the pictures. My husband, Josh Lambert, humored me and dressed as Annie Liebovitz!"

26. Tiffany Benedict Berkson as Cleopatra. Tiffany says, "I was so proud of this Cleopatra outfit--bought the dress at a vintage store in Fresno, and made the collar from a placemat and beads and the rest from sewing and painting!"

Yvonne Lambert of http://www.theoctopusproject.com/ as an escapted marionette. The vintage dress was custom made for Broadway/Hollywood actress, Susan Tyrrell, by her friend and offbeat fashion designer Gregory Poe.

27. Jessica Jaeger of http://www.vintagestitches.com/ "dressed up as Miss Blankenship from season 4 of Mad Men for the second annual Mad Men Halloween at Bryant's Cocktail Lounge here in Milwaukee. The suit is vintage as are my stockings, foundations, jewelry and accessories. The blouse, probably vintage 1980s, was similar in design to the original but still needed a few alterations to make it more closely resemble one of her blouses from the series. I added all of the tacky old lady lace (around the collar, down the CF, on the sleeve bands) and also had to shorten the sleeves to make it more screen accurate. The wig was originally made for our production of "Bombshells" last season but was cut from the show last minute so was never used, our wig master kindly re-styled it for me and let me borrow it for the evening. I won the costume contest that evening too, beating out all the Joans and the random sexy secretaries. Everybody got a real kick out of the costume."

28. Karissa of http://www.k-barberphotography.com/ as Carmen Miranda. "My dress is a 1950's Katie Schorer Originals dress. Katie Schorer only designed square dancing dresses, but I thought this would work perfectly as Carmen Miranda. The scarves wrapped around my head or vintage silk scarfs as well."

29. Collette says, "I did a b&w costume this year and it was 30s/40s inspired. I attempted a finger wave and set the rest of my hair in pin curls. The dress is modern but with an old fashioned feel."

30. Michelle Nugent of New to You on the left with the red/orange wig wearing a vintage 70's pantsuit. She was a funky hula hoop dancer. The person in the middle is a Mardi Gras band leader, her jacket is a vintage 80's beaded blazer, which was her inspiration for the costume. The young man is Riff-Raff, the handyman/butler from the Rocky Horror Picture show. His "tux" jacket was made from a vintage men's blazer that had been cut down so it would have tails.

31. The Adkins family as vintage breakfast cereal monsters Boo Berry, Franken Berry and Count Chocula.

32. Rosemary as Marlo Thomas in "That Girl". She is wearing a vintage 60s dress.

33. Amanda Lee of http://www.jitterbugdoll.blogspot.com/ says, "This year I dressed as a pinup ghost--I wore a 1940s midriff sweater and a pair of 1950s velvet shorts, along with 40s-style platform heels."

Johnny Schaffer says, "We went as King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I made those costumes myself and refurnished/reconstructed a vintage 1950's wedding dress for her costume!"

Costume Contest Entries #3

2011-11-02T07:02:00.003-04:00

Here are more entries in our Halloween Costume Contest! Want to win a $50 Couture Allure gift certificate? Send me your photos! Today is the last day to send in your photos. Winner announced on Friday!

13. Laura Mae of Lilacs and Lace as Lucy Ricardo. Laura made the dress from a vintage pattern and dressed her dog Tino as Ricky.

14. Jennifer as a 1950s black widow. Vintage hat dolled up with a spider web. Vintage gloves, vintage inspired dress. Jennifer says, "This 1950's housewife is at the funeral of her late husband. He thought her pumpkin muffins were to die for--literally."

15. Danielle of Constantly Alice as Snow White. She is wearing a vintage boiled wool jacket and a vintage apple brooch.

16. Katy O'Grady was inspired by Toulouse Lautrec's rendering of Moulin Rouge dancer Jane Avril. Katy's gloves are vintage and the rest she made.

17. Kris Ward made her costume and decorated it with vintage sequins. Gotta love a clown in orange satin shoes!

18. Stephanie Harvey says, "My costume was inspired by all the idea of a circus freak around the 1940's. My freak was the bird woman and I was wearing what I guess is a 1930's dress or maybe 1970's, I'm not sure, it's silk and it close at the front just with a little button. On top of the dress a corset with a crinoline pinned at the back. Except the fishnets, every part of my costume is a treasure from the past."

19. Caitlin as a retro zombie. She says, "I made the dress from Simplicity 4602, which I'm guessing is from about 1961. I'm also wearing a vintage brooch and girdle and carrying a blood-covered 50s (?) lucite clutch."

Holly of Lucite Box dressed as Karl Lagerfeld.

20. Rachel of Miss Cherry's Diary as a 1940s black and white film noir starlet. Rachel says, "It took me hours to cover myself in white paint, which unfortunately seems to have gone all over my dress! My dress wasn't vintage but my hat, gloves and pearls were."

Costume Contest Entries #2

2011-11-01T08:42:00.003-04:00

Here are more entries in our Halloween Costume Contest! Want to win a $50 Couture Allure gift certificate? Send me your photos! Photos must be received by tomorrow, November 2.

7. Sarah of That Damn Green Dress as Rapunzel. She is wearing a 1960s velvet mini dress with lace trimmed leggings. Sarah made the 20 foot long wig herself out of wool yarn.

8. Holly of Lucite Box was inspired by her fez collection to become a zombie. She is wearing a 40s men's tuxedo jacket, a 40s tie and a vintage fez.

9. Sylvain as Dracula wearing a 1950s tuxedo and bow tie.

10. Liz channeling a flapper. She is wearing her grandmother's fur jacket from the 50s with a 1960s drop waisted mini dress.

11. Stephanie as a 1940s film noir starlet.

12. Jen Thompson of Festive Attyre as a hippie. She is wearing a maxi skirt that her mother wore to an Elvis concert in the 70s and a crocheted shawl made by her mother-in-law in the 70s.

Keep those entries coming!

Costume Contest Entries #1

2011-10-31T09:54:00.003-04:00

Here are the first entries in our Halloween Costume Contest! Want to win a $50 Couture Allure gift certificate? Send me your photos!

1. Jessica Mautner as Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday Mr. President."

2. Shannon Burchard as Goldie Hawn from Laugh-In.

3. Brianna Dale of Baubles, Accoutrements and Garb wore a vintage hat and brooch to her town's Nightmare on Main Street.

4. Maral of Sarcasm-Hime wears a replica of Cyd Charisse's dress from "Singin' in the Rain." Maral took 6 months to make this costume and did all the beading by hand.

5. Jean Katter worn a 50s vintage dress as the Prom Queen.

6. Laurence of Lost in the 50's dressed as a good witch in a 1930s velvet gown, 1940s shoes and 50s orange jewelry.

New at Couture Allure - Little Black Vintage Party Dresses

2011-10-30T06:26:00.000-04:00

It's been a week of little black dresses at Couture Allure! If you've got a party to go to, we have your dress! Be sure to check our What's New Page for all the latest listings.

1950s dress and jacket with pink tulle ruffles.

1990s Oscar de la Renta lace dress

1950s silk dress with back floating drapes

1950s Jerry Parnis beaded cotton dress

1970s Adolfo beaded knit gown

Weekend Eye Candy - Robert Piguet, 1950

2011-10-29T07:15:00.000-04:00

There is no more appropriate weekend for this gorgeous ensemble by Robert Piguet from 1950. The designer combines a vibrant orange wool jacket and vest over a dress of black and white checked wool. Add a matching jaunty hat, black gloves and a chunky silver bracelet and you are ready!

If you're headed to a Halloween party this weekend, have fun, stay safe and don't forget to take pictures of yourself in your costume! Send my your photos and enter to win a $50 Couture Allure gift certificate! Full details can be found here.

Friday Fur - Maggy Rouff, 1953

2011-10-28T07:08:00.002-04:00

I've been puzzling over the construction of this white mink jacket? stole? for the last couple of hours. Designed by Maggy Rouff in 1953, I think this is is a jacket with splits in the sleeves at the elbows so it looks like you're holding a separate muff. But it could certainly be a separate muff. What's your theory?

Win a $50 Couture Allure Gift Certificate!

2011-10-27T12:58:00.000-04:00

Maral from Sarcasm-Hime

Don't forget to enter our Halloween Costume Contest to win a $50 gift certificate to Couture Allure! You'll find full details here.

What We Were Wearing - Fall 1961

2011-10-27T06:37:00.006-04:00

50 years ago this month, this is what women were wearing.

Oleg Cassini

Perhaps the biggest influence on fashion here in the States, Jackie Kennedy personified the ladylike look most women tried to achieve. Simple sheath dresses were very popular.

Jean Patou

Elegant suits had shorter and boxier jackets with 3/4 sleeves and big buttons.

Handmacher

Pillbox hats were the latest craze for the head, but hats were dwindling in popularity. Long gloves were worn with suits and coats that had 3/4 sleeves. Simple coats with fur wedding ring collars were everywhere.

Sue Brett

Full skirted dresses were having their last hurrah. They were shorter in length and would disappear within a year or two.

Sweater by Braemar, pants by Geist & Geist

Skinny pants for casual wear were sometimes made of knits. They were paired with sweaters or blouses.

Edward Abbott

Brocade was big. Cocktail dresses were usually simple sheaths in opulent fabrics or full skirted styles in chiffon.

Pierre Balmain

Evening gowns usually had simple lines and were made of luxurious fabrics. Brocades and heavy satins were most popular. Every woman had or wanted a mink stole or jacket for evening.

Van Raalte

No matter what she was wearing on top, a woman in 1961 always wore a bra and girdle. A slip was always worn under dresses and suits.

Choices, Choices

2011-10-26T07:12:00.002-04:00

Why can't we have choices like this anymore? In this 2 page ad from 1956, Garland Orlon sweaters were offered in 6 styles. Each style was made in 9 colors. That's 54 possibilities to choose from. There is something for everyone to love here.

Top row left: "Put it atop your separate skirt, tuck it into your suit skirt - a sweater for all around the clock."
Center: "The V neck classic that goes nicely over tailored shirts or with the separate collars you like to wear."
Right: "Casual, flattering and completely versatile for skirts or suits. Wear with or without your own costume pin."

Bottom row left: "Pert sweater with collar that buttons as high or as low as you like."
Center: "A three-way collar cardigan; button it higher, button it lower, leave it as is."
Right: "The classic sweater set in harmony of line and color. Match or mix the pullover and cardigan colors."

Which sweater in what colors would you choose?

How To Wash Vintage Silk Scarves

2011-10-25T07:07:00.002-04:00

If you're like me, you love vintage scarves for the versatility they can add to your wardrobe. Just as with all vintage clothing, I find the quality of vintage scarves to be much better than modern ones unless you're talking about a high end designer like Hermes whose quality has been consistent over the years. But you don't have to have your vintage scarves dry cleaned! I hand wash most of mine at home (exceptions would be those high end designers). Today, I thought I'd pass along my trade secrets about how to wash your vintage scarves.

The most common stains you'll find on vintage scarves are from makeup, perfume and food. Even if a scarf looks clean, I would recommend that you wash it before using it. And don't iron a vintage scarf before cleaning! The heat of the iron will often reveal invisible stains and will set them in permanently. Hint: To avoid getting food stains on your scarves, turn them to your back or remove them entirely while eating.

1. Examine your scarf closely for spots or stains. Holding a scarf up to a strong light source will often reveal stains that are hiding in the print. Here is a vintage Vera scarf that is a rayon/silk blend. Upon inspection, I found two brown spots. These look like old food stains to me and they may be tough to get out after 40 years, but let's see how it goes.

2. My secret ingredient is Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds. This is a mild biodegradable cleaner that I use diluted to wash dishes and clean my house. It is free of color and preservatives and has never damaged any of the hundreds of scarves I have washed it with in several years. If you'd rather use something else, choose a gentle baby shampoo or soap made to wash delicates, but be sure it has no dyes or perfumes in it.

3. If your scarf is older than the mid 70s, test a tiny drop of whatever cleaner you are using on an inconspicuous spot. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse to see if the dyes fade. If so, skip steps 4 and 5 and just do an allover wash with no concentrated stain removal.

4. Lay the scarf on a clean surface that will not be affected by dye. Dribble a few drops of full-strength Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds on the spots.

5. Rub the Sal Suds into the spots and let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes. For greasy stains, I'll let it sit for about a half hour.

6. Put the scarf in a basin and add tepid water. There is enough Sal Suds on the stains to make plenty of suds, so you don't need to add more. Swish the scarf around for a minute or so to clean the entire thing. Lift the scarf out of the sudsy water, supporting it from underneath. DON'T squeeze or wring it out! You may see a bit of color come off in the water, but this is normal. Don't leave your scarf to soak in the water for this reason, though. Rinse the scarf thoroughly under running tepid or cool water. When the water runs clear and all suds are gone, gently lift the scarf from underneath. DON'T squeeze out the water. DON'T wring or twist the wet scarf! Let much of the water drain off the scarf while supporting it in your hands.

7. Lay the wet scarf out on an absorbent bath towel. Lay it flat with no folds or wrinkles.

8. Roll the scarf up in the towel to remove the excess water. Unroll the towel and let the scarf lay flat for about 10-15 minutes. Important: Don't let it dry completely!

9. You can see that the scarf has wrinkles and dimples from being rolled in the towel. That's OK!

10. While the scarf is STILL DAMP, iron it on a low/medium setting. I use a poly/blend setting on my iron, as the silk setting is too hot for wet silk. The warm iron will magically dry the silk as you iron it. If your scarf has rolled edges, avoid flattening them by just ironing up to the edge, but not over it.

11. Voila! A clean scarf that is ready to wear!

As I suspected, those food stains were not destined to come out completely, but the stains faded quite a bit and the scarf brightened up nicely. The beauty of wearing a scarf is that when you fold it or tie it, you can hide those stubborn spots that are permanent.

The Couture Allure Halloween Costume Contest!

2011-10-24T06:54:00.013-04:00

Contest is now closed. Please plan to enter next year!

Want to win a $50.00 Couture Allure Gift Certificate?

Announcing the Couture Allure Halloween Costume Contest!!!!!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? If you are incorporating actual vintage clothing or just dressing up as someone from another era, we want to see your costume! Send me a photo of you in your Halloween costume and I'll post it here on my blog and on my Facebook fan page for all to enjoy. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on Friday, November 4. The winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to use at Couture Allure!

Whether you're dressing up as a flapper....

...a 1950s housewife....

...a 60s modster.....

...or a hippie.

Whether you're dressing up as Scarlett O'Hara....

...Marilyn Monroe...

...Sonny or Cher...

...we want to see your costume!

Contest rules:

1. Your costume must incorporate actual vintage clothing or it must be inspired by the fashions or a person from the 1980s or earlier. If you're dressing as a robot, a mummy, or Lady Gaga I know you'll look fabulous, but your costume will not be eligible for this contest.

2. You must be willing to have your photo published on this blog and on the Couture Allure Facebook page.

3. Your photo can be a costume you wore this year or it can be from previous years. The photo must be of you, not a friend, not some random person you saw at a party or parade. Photos of children will not be accepted for this contest. I reserve the right to not publish photos I deem offensive or inappropriate for this blog.

4. Email your photo to info at coutureallure dot com. Include the name you want posted with your photo. If you have a blog, I'm happy to link to you so send that information too. Tell me whether you are wearing actual vintage or were just inspired by another era. Include an email where I can contact you if you are the winner. Photos must be received by Wednesday, November 2, 2011.
5. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on Friday, November 4. Winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to be used toward any purchase at Couture Allure. Gift certificate cannot be redeemed for cash and must be used by April 1, 2012. Gift certificate does not apply to shipping costs. Item(s) purchased with the gift certificate cannot be returned.