Jo Copeland Suit - 1943

After being in a box for the last 6 months, I finally unearthed my scanner and I have all my vintage fashion magazines out of storage.  Yay!

How I wish this image were in color, but Harper's Bazaar and all magazines were judicious with full color pages at this time, especially during the war years.  This fabulous suit is by Jo Copeland for Patullo.  The jacket is a blue, white and yellow check, the skirt is navy blue and the blouse is yellow rayon crepe. I really like that buckle at the waist.

The model?  None other than Lauren Bacall.

Photo by George Hoyningen-Huene for Harper's Bazaar, 1943.

Jo Copeland Evening Dress - 1958

Jo Copeland designed this stunning evening gown in 1958 and it was featured in a full page ad for Bonwit Teller.  "Almondine, my beauty...ravishing almond green satin that sweeps up front, down in back with fringed satin panels trailing.  The bodice is a shimmer of metallic ribbon."  Note how carefully the ribbons are layered to follow the lines of the fitted bodice.  Matching opera length gloves?  Yes, please.

One Striking Photo

Last week, when I was wandering the Brimfield Antique Show, one of the treasures I brought home was an issue of Vogue magazine from 1946. As I started turning the pages, this ad stopped me cold. I absolutely adore everything I see here, but the printed gloves that match the printed blouse that matches the printed lining of the jacket make me swoon with glee.

This striking photo is an early example of cross merchandising. The ad is for Harzfeld's in Kansas City. Harzfeld's was the high end department store in Kansas City. Revlon kicked in advertising dollars so they could get a tag line for their "Fatal Apple" red lipstick, which the model wears. And in small letters, a second tag line tells us that the suit is by Pattullo. Jo Copeland was the designer for Pattullo, and she was recognized as one of the most talented American designers of the time. But I probably didn't need to tell you that. The gloves say it all!