Marimekko on Exhibit

Back in July, I did a post about Marimekko dresses and the original Design Research store in Cambridge, MA. Crate and Barrel recently vacated the DR building, and rather than have it sit empty, the landlord allowed Jane Thompson, wife of DR founder Ben Thompson, to pull together an exhibit of what the original DR store looked like to mark it's 40th anniversary. Included are vintage Marimekko dresses hanging in the windows.



The exhibit can only be viewed through the windows from the outside, and is brightly lit at night. If you live in the Boston area or will be visiting, take a trip to Harvard Square to see a bit of history on view through April 2010. This is how we shopped 40 years ago!

Want to see more of the Marimekko on display? Pop on over to the Marimekko Blog to see a host of stunning photos. I didn't know Marimekko had a blog, but I was sure happy to find it!

And if you've got a free 10 minutes, this clip from WGBH news program Greater Boston is worth your time. At least watch the first 5 with film from inside the exhibit.

What's Old is New Again - Mohair Coats

File this under "What's Old is New Again". You may think the look of this plaid mohair coat by DKNY is fresh and new. And at $995, you'd sure hope so, wouldn't you?

Here it is on the runway at the DKNY Fall 2009 show.
Here it is in a recent issue of Vogue magazine.

Sorry, Donna. As a vintage clothing lover, I've seen this coat before and I don't need to spend a thousand dollars to get the look. Fuzzy plaid mohair coats were very popular in the early 1960s.

Marquise fuzzy wool and mohair coat from 1962.

Zelinka-Matlick wool and mohair coat in a big plaid from 1961.

La Vigna short mohair coat from 1962.

As a savvy consumer, I know if I purchase a vintage coat from the 1960s or 70s today, the quality and construction will be far superior to what you can offer me, and the price will be something my wallet can bear. Take these, for instance.

Donald Brooks vintage coat $225 at Enokiworld.

1960s plaid mohair coat $79.99 at GlamourSavvy.

Want the look for less? Do a Google search for "vintage plaid mohair coat". You'll find hundreds of possibilities. You'll even find a couple at Couture Allure!

Bergdorf Goodman Ads

Fashion writers have such an enviable talent. They can make a dress desirable with the choice of a few words. Ads for Bergdorf Goodman showcased this talent at its best. While Bergdorf's ads often featured fashion photography, I think their ads with beautifully drawn illustrations spark the imagination in a better way. Can't you just see and feel what these garments are like based on the verbal imagery?

September 1965 - "Fur Doubles the Dash of this new suit shaping, echoing the close-fitting cut of the trim jacket as well as the deep-tobacco color of the crisp gabardine. Under the jacket lies a neatly curved, sleeveless over-blouse and a front-gathered skirt that slopes gently into walking ease. By Marquise in yarn-dyed tobacco brown worsted wool gabardine edged with brown-dyed deep-curling Afghanistan lamb." $395 (about $2717 in today's dollar).

September 1965 - "Wool - Afloat Under Fur...Watch it skimming along the boulevards this Fall with a graceful awareness of figure and a bouyant ripple of hemline. Its special drama: a great, wide fur boa whipped into a dashing bow and flung over the shoulder. The deeply sculptured grey wool from Italy comes with a boa of natural grey Afghanistan lamb; also in navy with black-dyed nutria boa." Dress alone, $275 (about $1892 in today's dollar). Dress with fur boa, $735 (about $5055 in today's dollar).

February 1964 - "The Capelet Costume...full-of-flair and elegant bravado. Watch this shape-in-the-news sweep South and into Spring'64, a beautiful balance of crisply-controlled width and eased slenderness. Adele Simpson flings the breezy little silk-lined cape over a dress of matching rayon Fibranne, its waistline lashed with a sliver of leather. Navy with vivid green lining and belt, sea green with turquoise, gold nugget with black or black with gold nugget." $160 (about $1100 in today's dollar).

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Designer Dresses

New this week at Couture Allure are several vintage designer dresses and suits. Check our What's New page for the most recent additions to the site!

1970s Goldworm Matisse art print knit dress

1940s beaded cocktail dress in a larger size

1990s Moschino Cheap 'n Chic Mod style dress

1980s Norma Kamali 40s style dress

1950s Fuschia wool dress & jacket with faux fur trim

1950s black taffeta suit with full skirt

Weekend Eye Candy - Elsa Schiaparelli 1938

Tina Chow wears a 1938 Schiaparelli gown from her personal collection. The dress is entirely covered in blue bugle beads.

It's All About Color

It's a dreary, cold day in Boston. After several recent warmer-than-normal days with brilliant sunshine, today's weather seems hellbent on making my mood as gray as the skies outside. Add to that the fact that I didn't sleep well, and you have a foreboding forecast for this house.

Then, as I was perusing a November 1957 magazine seeking inspiration for today's blog post, I suddenly came across this ad for Jantzen separates.

You know what? I don't have to reach for black or gray in my closet today. I don't even have to reach for brown or beige. I'm going to wear turquoise today! It's one of my favorite colors, it makes my skin glow, and it is sure to brighten my mood automatically. It's going to be a good day.

It's all about color.

UPDATE: Put on my turquoise top and promptly dripped blueberry yougurt smoothie down the front. Green. Green works just as well, doesn't it? Have a great Friday, all!

Mad Men Predictions - How'd I Do? Part 2

Back in August, I made predictions about what our favorite Mad Men characters would be wearing in Season 3. So, how did I do? Here is my prediction post about Hair and Makeup.

In 1963, we start to see bigger, bouffant hairstyles, and I predicted that Joan would be the early adapter of those styles. Wrong!

While Joan's hairstyle did get a big bigger at the back...

...it was Betty who blew us away with this 'do on her trip to Rome!

Peggy wears a flipped bob all season, but what is with the center part in her bangs?? Is she growing them out?

Betty wears the same flipped bob with so much more sophistication, doesn't she?

Two of my favorite fashion moments this season came from less important characters. Margaret gets married on the day of Jack Kennedy's funeral, which really puts a damper on the festivities. Her gown was gorgeous, but it was her stunning feathered headpiece that blew me away.

My choice for the best dressed woman this season? Annabelle Mathis, dog food heiress who comes to visit old flame Roger Sterling in hopes of rekindling that romance. Roger turns her down, but boy does Annabelle know how to dress! We see her in a black sequined dress when she has dinner with Roger, and a black suit with ocelot fur trim later in the episode. Unfortunately, there are no still shots of Annabelle's clothes, but you can see her in what appears to be a Chanel suit in this short clip from Episode 11.



Although I thought Season 3 was quite boring for the first 5 episodes, it really took off in episode 6 when the English executive gets his foot cut off with the riding lawn mower. And the finale has me very excited about season 4. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long!

Mad Men Predictions - How'd I Do?

Back in August, I made some predictions about what we would see our favorite Mad Men characters wearing for 1963. Season 3 of Mad Men is now a wrap, so how did my predictions pan out?

I said that while fashion was becoming a bit looser fitting in 1963, Joan would stick with her body-hugging styles, and she did, but mainly because as a newly married woman with a medical student husband, she had no money to spend on new clothes. I missed Joan's character a lot this season and I'm so glad to see she'll be back in full force for season 4.

My prediction post

Joan wore this rose applique dress when hosting a dinner party.

And this was the dress she wore on her last day of work at Sterling Cooper.

I said that Peggy would continue to wear what she was comfortable in, and she did stay stuck in her ubiquitous shirtdresses, sweaters, and skirts. My predictions for what she might wear were wrong, as she is not a fashion forward kind of a gal. If she wears one more bow, though, I might scream. I really liked the way Peggy stood up for herself in the finale when Don offered her a job with his new company. Let's hope her wardrobe will break out next year.

My prediction post

Peggy continued to wear sweet blouses with bows.

And blouses with wool plaid skirts.

Peggy did wear one suit this year, and I want to see more of this!

Betty spent the first few episodes of this season in maternity clothes, some of which were very pretty. She then went straight to very fitted body conscious dresses, as I predicted she would. Will Betty go through with the divorce? It will be very interesting to see where the writers take her character.

My prediction post

Betty wore this white pleated dress, which was very similar to one I picked for her.

Betty wore this tight floral dress when she met with Henry at the cafe.

I missed on this one, as we saw Betty wear super tight pants with sweaters several times.

Betty wore this gorgeous aqua and gold evening gown to Don's award dinner.

And this brocade suit with white mink collar to Margaret's wedding.

More tomorrow!

Macy's Christmas Catalog - 1982

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? There are only 44 shopping days until Christmas, you know. Don't want to think about right now? Neither do I. Instead, enjoy these choice offerings from the Macy's 1982 Christmas catalog with me.

Adolfo's natural Canadian Lynx fur coat adorned the cover. "Surround her in its opulence - and keep her forever beholden." Say what??? I don't think so! Coat sold for a mere $12,000 in 1982 (about $26,500 in today's dollar). He wears a Bill Blass tuxedo.

Cotton velveteen full skirted dress by Norma Kamali. Sold for $196 in 1982 (about $433 in today's dollar). The lace collar sold separately for $28 (about $62 in today's dollar).

Unfortunately, a page is ripped out of my catalog so I can't tell you who this tuxedo was designed by, but check out that boxy jacket and tapered pants. Weren't we something?

Bill Tice polyester lounging pajamas with an oriental motif. Sold for $125 in 1982 (about $276 in today's dollar).

For the younger set, romantic Gunne Sax separates in burgundy velvet or taffeta.

And, honey, if you didn't have at least one Izod polo shirt in your closet, you were not a proper fashionista! Popped collar required. Cardigan thrown over the shoulders optional.

Day to Date Dress - 1950

These images come from an ad for Wyner worsted wool jersey fabric in a 1950 magazine. Our clever secretary has made a sleeveless dress from Simplicity pattern 8307 in this versatile fabric that will take her from a long day at the office to a date in the evening.

Here, she wears the dress over a jewel necked pullover and matching belt. Now if her boss would just sign the darned letter, she could get changed and meet her date.

Here, our gal-about-town has removed the top, and traded her watch for a bangle bracelet. Her velvet cap adds a touch of elegance while sipping martinis with her man. But wait!! Isn't that her boss? Why yes, yes it is. There was no money in the budget for a second male model, I guess. Oops.

The original 1950 pattern is available for purchase from The Cupid and The Swan at Tias.com for $35.00. It's not often that I find an exact pattern match for garments featured on my blog. If you like what you see, grab the pattern quick, because there is only one!