Weekend Eye Candy - Mathilde Geral, 1939

Mathilde Geral.  I'd never heard of this French couture house and in doing research, I can only find mention of the designer in 1938 and 1939. The house was located on the Place Vendome in Paris.  Since Paris was occupied by the Germans staring in 1940, one can only guess what happened to the designer.  Geral's business did not survive the war.  I know nothing else, but if anyone out there can provide more information, please do so in the comments.

This stunning one shoulder gown from 1939 has a huge silk tulle skirt accented with velvet petals and a large silk tulle flower at the neckline. 

Photo by George Saad for L'Art et la Mode, 1939.

Weekend Eye Candy - Lucien Lelong

To me, this coat is timeless.  It is just as fashionable today as it was in 1939.  Look how perfectly the plaid is matched on the diagonal at the front opening.  Black and white check wool worn over a red dress.  The belt, bag and hat are all in the same red.  Lucien Lelong, Fall 1939.

Autumn Inspirations, 1939

Robert Piguet, 1939.

A final post in our Autumn Inspirations series.  Today's fashions are from the fall of 1939.

Reynaud, Fall 1939

Clara's Custom Made Clothes

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sometimes the serendipity of what I do is amazing. This morning I was flipping through a 1939 issue of Town and Country magazine and I found this half page ad for Clara's Custom Made Clothes at Eighteen East 53rd Street in New York. The address is right off of Madison Avenue and you know this was an expensive store for society's elite. Especially if the store could afford a half page ad in the front third of the pages of Town and Country.

But what's the big deal? What's so serendipitous?

Just last week, I listed a Nina Ricci dress dated 1971 that was sold by Clara's at 18 E. 53rd St. Yep, same store, same high quality garments, same elite customers. And that, my friends, is serendipity. I love what I do.

1971 Nina Ricci silk dress available at Couture Allure.

Weekend Eye Candy - Blondell Furs, 1939

A major winter storm is headed our way and we're expecting 18-20" of snow in the next 36 hours. Maybe this 1939 white fox fur cape by Blondell Furs would keep me warm.

Weekend Eye Candy - Elsa Schiaparelli, 1939

Leopard skin booties designed by Elsa Schiaparelli for her Fall 1939-40 season. The pair shown here were part of the designer's personal wardrobe and one of her favorite pairs of shoes. They were shown in the exhibit "Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2003.

Photo from the book that accompanied the exhibit.

Hair Styles - 1939

During the 1930s, women's hair styles were shorter and were set with finger waves and pin curls. Permanent waves became popular at this time so that women with straight hair could wear fashionable styles. Longer hair was rolled into curls or a bun at the nape of the neck.

Hats from this period were worn tilted forward or to the side. A woman's hairstyle was often asymmetric, as well, to accommodate the wearing of her favorite hat.

Curls were often placed so that they complimented the hat. All of the hair styles shown below are from 1939. Enjoy!






Are you thinking everyone was blonde in 1939? No, it's simply that lighter hair showed the details for photography.