Suits Illustrated - 1963

Department stores often used illustrations instead of photographs in high fashion magazines and newspapers as it was less expensive to hire an artist than it was to hire a fashion photographer, a model and a studio.  Some illustrators were on staff at the stores, come worked for the advertising agency, and some were self employed with contracts to provide drawings for the store. Only well known artists were allowed to add their signature to the drawing.  These illustrations are all from one magazine in August of 1963. 

I. Magnin & Co.  "A look of elegance, a look of opulence...three-piece costume of Anglo's lacy-textured wool tweed with natural Canadian lynx 300.00...from our Manor-Bourne Collection designed exclusively for I. Magnin".  (about $2221.00 in today's dollar.)

Bonwit Teller, illustration by Kenneth Paul Block.  "From Ben Barrack, magnum houndstooth checks in a costume of brushed mohair and wool.  Unexpected tour de force: the opulent peau de soie bodice.  Pink, amber or white-checked with black, bodice and scarf in black.  $145.00."  (About $1074.00 in today's dollar.)

Best & Co.  "Bardley blends the perfect ensemble....of imported wools.  Well-bred wools are a Bardley byword and as you can see here they know just how to mix texture and color and line ot a connoisseur's taste.  Both in cranberry, pebble beige, loden green or French blue.  Coat with set-away collar of thick, airy, silky wool tweed.  $125.00.  Suit of needlepoint wool.  $90.00."  (About $925 and $665 in today's dollar.)

Saks Fifth Avenue  "Our own Sophie's town suit prophecy in French wool tweed - the attenuated jacket jersey-framed at the neckline to match the shell beneath, $395.00."  (About $2924.00 in today's dollar.)
 

Lord & Taylor, illustration by Dorothy Hood.  "High casual - new turnabout of suit with buttons up the back, scarf all around - the easy mood of Monte-Sano and Pruzan, in black and white windowpane wool from France.  $290.00."  ($2147.00 in today's dollar.)

Fashion Illustrations - 1963

I am an art lover. When I travel, I spend a lot of time in museums looking at art. I admire and envy anyone who has talent with a pencil, pen, or brush. Don't get me wrong. I have my own talents. I can take a flat piece of fabric and use my sewing and tailoring skills to turn it into a beautiful garment. I can embellish that garment with embroidery or beadwork. I can knit and crochet. But, much as I would like, I cannot draw and I cannot paint.

It takes great talent to look at clothing and translate the look and feel of it onto paper. These illustrations from Harper's Bazaar magazine from 1963 are wonderful examples. Can you feel the fabrics? Can you see what these garments look like in real life? There are no artist signatures, but in tiny print at the corner of each page is the name Perint. These drawings are some of the early work of fashion illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer.

Georgia Bullock dress and matching fringed stole. Dress bodice in charcoal wool knit with skirt and stole in bias cut charcoal and taupe plaid brushed wool. Sold for $145 in 1963 (about $1010 in today's dollar).

Left: De De Johnson camel colored wool knit dress and jacket with leather half belt and buttons. Sold for $110 in 1963 (about $766 in today's dollar).
Right: Off-white worsted whipcord wool suit by Couture West. Sold for $160 in 1963 (about $1114 in today's dollar).

Left: Oscar of Beverly Hills camel's hair suit with welted seams. Sold for $185 in 1963 (about $1289 in today's dollar).
Right: Weatherbee windproof coat of beige cotton suede lined in Acrilan pile. Sold for $35 in 1963 (about $244 in today's dollar).

Pure white camel's hair coat with collar and lining in guanaco fur by Stanley Nelson.