6 Hilariously Awkward Model Poses - 1960

I was perusing a fashion magazine from 1960 this morning and kept coming across pictures in which the model was posed in a very awkward way.  I thought they might bring a little fun to your day.

This girl looks like she is holding a dress that is far too large for her up with her armpits.  If she lifts her arms, that dress is going to slide right down.

Sit on the chair, but don't wrinkle the dress!  Isn't this one of those difficult yoga poses?

No one will notice your hair if you hold this rose.  Caress the rose, make love to the rose, it's all about the rose.

She needs a prop.  Get her a book!  Reading a book while standing in heels and wearing gloves and a big fur hat is perfectly normal!

Model with long legs and chair with short legs.  Make it work!

The gal on the left looks like she definitely has an opinion about the gal on the right, and it's not pretty!

Designer Hats from Paris - 1960

Pierre Balmain

I posted these gorgeous hat photos on my Facebook page yesterday.  Everyone loved them so much, I thought you might like to see them here. All from Paris, all from the spring of 1960.

Rose Valois

Paulette

Gilbert Orcel

Jean Patou

Claude St. Cyr

Shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, 1960

In photos from the late Fall of 1960, we can see what a different experience shopping was compared to the crammed sales floors of today.  Look!  A place to sit!  Individual service from one of many sales assistants!  Place your order and have it delivered to your home!

Evening gowns galore! 

A gentleman shops for a hat for a lady friend.  Note how the hats are stored in deep drawers.

Space to move with large mirrors and generous lighting while trying on clothes.

And if you had the money, you could shop in the custom salon with even more individualized service.

Finally, in the custom couture salon, you could purchase an exclusive design from Sophie Gimbel (she's on the right.)

Those were the days!

All photos by Peter Stackpole for Life Magazine, 1960.

Vintage Brocade Coats for Evening

Michel Goma brocade coat, 1960

I've always love the opulence of metallic brocades.  These fabrics became very popular for evening wear in the late 50s and early 60s.  I have some beautiful brocade vintage dresses and coats right now at Couture Allure with more to come as the season progresses.

Similar brocade evening coat now at Couture Allure

Brocade cocktail dress with long coat by Nina Ricci, 1960.

Metallic brocade evening gown with matching coat at Couture Allure

Leonard Fashion for Hermes - 1961

Spring 1961

 In 1960, Daniel Tribouillard, Chief Executive Director of Leonard Fashion, invented a new printing process which allowed for knit fabric to be continuously printed.  In the early years of the fashion division of Leonard, the company made exclusive designs for other design houses.  Shown here today are two of their early sweaters for Hermes.

Fall 1960

Both sweaters were a blend of lightweight wool and Crylor acrylic.  How can you go wrong with ballerinas and butterflies?

Mr. Blackwell Dresses, 1960

Mr. Blackwell, of the famous Worst Dressed List, had his own clothing line starting in 1958.  Here he is photographed surrounded by a bevy of beauties wearing his dresses for summer 1960. 

Left:  Angel sleeves add bewitchment to a sorceress sheath of imported silk linen, fitted to make everyone glad  you're a girl.  About $90 (that's $706 in today's dollar.)

Back:  Flag-colored stripes blazed on sailcloth.  Cutaway jacket, giant clutch purse, square-necked sheath of sailcloth.  About $45 (that's $353 in today's dollar.)

Right:  High voltage colors in a flowered cotton sheath strewn with glitter.  Added flirting voltage: neckline, fish-tail skirt.  About $45 (that's $353 in today's dollar.)

Macshore Classics Blouse - 1960

Macshore Classics was a maker of women's blouses beginning in 1943.  The company's products were well made, so well made you can find their vintage blouses for sale quite often.  If you wear blouses, I recommend that you give a MacShore Classics cotton blouse a try. The quality of materials used, the construction, the fit, and the details will far surpass any modern blouse you can buy at the mall today.  I guarantee it! 

The blouse shown above from 1960 is a great example. The front panels are accented with navy blue embroidered flowers that are filled with white lace appliques.  Isn't it pretty? 

Macshore Classics is a family-owned company and is still in business today in Greenville, SC, although now they make bedding and drapes.  All of their products are made in the USA! 

Beautiful Vintage Swimsuit Photos - 1960

Photography is not a particular talent of mine. I am always struck by the beauty of many photos I find in vintage magazines.  These gorgeous swimsuit shots are all from 1960.

From an ad for travel to the Bahamas, this photo is by John Lewis Stage.  It is entitled, "Liquid Sunshine, 20 Feet Deep."  Quite the glass bottomed boat!

This advertisement for Catalina swimsuits gives no credit to the photographer.  I love the way the white light in the sky and on the water is juxtaposed to the white swimsuit.

In an editorial photo for the magazine, photographer Frances McLaughlin-Gill uses an unusual position to capture a gorgeous shot.  The model's body angles from upper left to lower right in a visually arresting picture.  Swimsuit by Catalina, swim cap by Kleinert's.

Big Pockets - 1960

Today I am inspired by big pockets!  What a cute way to add interest to a simple dress.  If you're sewing your own dress, you don't need a pattern for a patch pocket.  Just draw the pocket you want, cut it from fabric and sew it on.  Make it as simple or as dramatic as you want.  You could cut it from a contrasting color or print to make it stand out even more.  Cute, right?  Make sure your pocket fabric has enough body to hold it's shape on the dress.  You don't want it to flop or crumple.  If you're using a lightweight fabric, your pocket should be lined, or at least interfaced.

This polka dot dress by Junior House has simple patch pockets cut from the same polka dot fabric.  Dress sold in 1960 for $23 (about $178 in today's dollar.)

Sir James rayon dress was available by mail order in coral, blue, yellow, lilac, beige, white and black.  Sold in 1960 for $25.95 (about $202 in today's dollar.)

Weekend Eye Candy - Jean Patou, 1960

Pink lace by Jean Patou, Spring 1960.  How I wish this photo was in color.

Weekend Eye Candy - Norman Hartnell, 1960

From the collection of the Fashion Museum in Bath, UK.  This Norman Hartnell gown from 1960 is fashioned of silk jersey that is embroidered and encrusted with rhinestones.  The matching jacket is trimmed in fox fur.

What to Wear With Yellow

Flipping through a magazine from 1960 this morning, I came across an article about what to wear with what, and there was yellow yet again!  In case you're thinking, "#IWouldWearYellow, but I have nothing to go with it," here are loads of ideas for you, my dears.

Left:  Yellow silk coat worn over a pale blue dress, accessorized with darker blue and green jewelry and green shoes. 
Right:  Bright yellow dress worn with orange-y red accessories.

Left:  Pineapple yellow suit worn with a yellow polka dotted white blouse and accessorized with a rattan handbag, gold jewelry and nude shoes.
Right:  Pineapple yellow dress worn with a pop of green hat, jade jewelry and beige shoes.

Left:  Pastel yellow silk dress worn with a polka dotted yellow hat, gold jewelry and pale yellow shoes.
Right:  Pastel yellow dress worn with a deeper orange-y yellow coat, pale yellow shoes and a pop of blue and white jewelry.

What would you wear with yellow?

When Was the Nylon Coil Zipper Introduced?

Many vintage dealers will look to the type of zipper used in a garment to help date it.  Metal zippers were in common use in garments from the 1940s through the 60s and I've even seen them in a few early 70s dresses.  But many people believe if a garment has a nylon zipper, it probably dates to the mid-to-late 60s at the earliest.  Not true.  Today I came across this ad for the "New" Talon Zephyr zipper in a magazine from October of 1960.  While it is true that nylon coil zippers were not immediately popular, you will find early ones from time to time, especially in designer garments.  The new nylon coil zippers were probably more expensive than metal ones at first, as most new technology is.  And they weren't available to home sewers until later.

The dress shown is by designer Hannah Troy.

There is the copy from the ad:  "New Talon Zephyr...fabulous nylon closure with the feel and flex of fabric.  Borne on the high winds of fashion:  A pouf of silk damask unburdened by the look and feel of hardware - accomplished by the new Talon Zephyr.  A new nylon coil design makes it as light, soft and supple as fabric.  And Zephyr's color lives forever, so it can't reveal that metal gleam along a seam.  It's virtually snag proof.  Magically self-healing.  (If fabric or thread should catch in coils, bend it in half to open....remove fabric.  Then zip it down, zip it up and it 'heals' itself!)  Look for the tiny Zephyr in fall's most important fashions.  Hannah Troy designed this one, and put special interest on the sleeves."

I'm not sure if Talon was the first company to introduce nylon coil zippers to the fashion industry, so I can't say that 1960 was the definitive year when the nylon zipper first appears in clothing.  But I can say that Talon advertised it's new zipper in 1960 and that provides a valuable clue when trying to date some vintage garments.

Photo source

UPDATE:  Please note that the zipper I am referring to in this article is the nylon coil zipper, as shown on the right in this photo.  Earlier plastic zippers were available and were most often used as a decorative element.  They were heavier and looked similar to the one shown on the left in this photo.  Please see my follow-up article on early plastic zippers from the 30's.  Nylon wasn't invented until 1935 and it's use for zipper coils did not come until much later.

Weekend Eye Candy - Hermes, 1960

It seems appropriate after our look at wearing plaids this week that this gorgeous coat and suit set by Hermes from 1960 should come along.  Note how the designer uses the same plaid in different sizes so they combine beautifully.

Inspiration from Christian Dior - 1960

Today's spectacular garment is a strapless ball gown by Christian Dior for Spring, 1960.  This gown was designed by Yves St. Laurent as part of the collection which would ultimately be his last for Dior.  Pink was a hugely popular color in 1960 and this gown is made of a melon pink silk organdy.  The organdy also fashions ruffles that explode at the bodice and hem.

How does this gown inspire you?

Inspiration from Nina Ricci - 1960

Today's inspiration comes from Nina Ricci.  Jules Francois Crahay was the designer for Ricci in 1960 and his genius is evident in this cocktail length dress paired with a full length opera coat, both in an opulent Middle Eastern inspired silk.  The coat is accented with black fox fur collar and cuffs.  Silver shoes echo the silver threads in the fabric.  Black kidskin gloves finish the look.

How does this inspire you?

Inspiration From B.H. Wragge - 1960

Today's inspiring garment is a dress by B.H. Wragge.  This is a simple blouson sheath in brown Moygashel linen that probably looks quite elegant but ordinary from the front.  Turn around, though, and you've got a pop of a bright red zipper from shoulder to hem.  The zipper pull is a cluster of beads by Coro.  The zipper is the latest thing in 1960, the new Talon Zephyr nylon zipper.  I adore the fact that the zipper is set off to the side rather than placed at the center back where you would expect it to be. Now isn't that ingenious!  Sold for $50 in 1960 (about $381 in today's dollar.)

How does this inspire you?

Inspiration From Guy Laroche - 1960

For Fall, 1960, Guy Laroche showed this trés elegant suit in orange and gray wool.  The dress is made to look like two pieces.  The jacket is reversible from orange with gray binding to solid gray.  The dress is fitted to the body while the jacket is the boxier shape that was so popular at the time.  Note the use of a brown leather hat and brown suede gloves to complete the look.

How does this inspire you?

Inspiration From Ben Zuckerman - 1960

I'm going to change things up a bit this week and show you one spectacular garment per day from the year 1960 as inspiration for your own style.

Spectacular indeed is what I would say about this suit by Ben Zuckerman from 1960.  Everything about it just takes my breath away!  The silk is printed in an Asian inspired floral in pink, orange and white.  The jacket is tied at the waist in front and floats freely in the back.  It has the latest news in collars from 1960, the little stand-up style that sits away from the neck.  The suit sold in 1960 for $215.00 (about $1640.00 in today's dollar.)  And how about that hat by Lilly Daché?  It's made of pink silk and matches the lining of the suit jacket.  Gloves by Kislav. Quite a statement!

How does this inspire you?

Weekend Eye Candy - Norman Hartnell Wedding Gown, 1960

It has become a tradition around here to feature brides and wedding dresses for our Weekend Eye Candy posts during the month of June.  Norman Hartnell designed this silk organza wedding gown for Princess Margaret.  She is also wearing the dramatic Poltimore tiara, which was sold by her children after her death.  The wedding took place on May 6, 1960 and it was the first Royal Wedding broadcast on television worldwide.