Style Statements - Animal Print and Vintage Muffs

1951

How do you take a simple gray wool suit into the stratosphere?  Add some animal print in your accessories!  Just the hint of print in the scarf she has tucked inside the jacket neckline makes the suit more interesting.  Add an animal print handbag and you've tied it all together.  I wonder what her shoes look like?  They could be animal print, but it's more likely they are gray or black.

Muffs like this one were popular from the 30s to the 50s.  They are a great way to keep your hands warm when the winter wind blows.  Most have hidden zipper pockets so you can carry your I.D., some money and your lipstick.  I'll bet you could even fit your cellphone in there.  And who needs more than that when you want to make a style statement?  We've got a couple of muffs available at Couture Allure right now.  Check them out!

Helene Scott - Maternity Designer

Helene Scott started in the fashion industry as a model.  When she became pregnant with her first child, she started designing her own maternity clothing.  She received many positive comments about her designs and decided to start her own business.  These photos are from a two page advertisement by Celanese in 1956.  Scott used Celanese acetate fabrics to make adaptations of European fashion for the American maternity market.   This is how the fashionable woman who was expecting dressed for evening in 1956.

Above:  Scott's adaptation of a suit by Miguel Dorian of Spain.  The silk/acetate blend cape suit is matched with a striped blouse.  Sold for $60 in 1956 (about $500 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a design by Simonetta.  Acetate satin dress with back pleats and belt.  Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $417 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Givenchy evening gown in acetate satin.  Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $584 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Sybil Connolly tiered dress in sheer acetate/nylon chiffon.  Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $417 in today's dollar.)

Scott's adaptation of a Norman Hartnell cocktail dress in black acetate crepe with white lace.  Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $334 in today's dollar.)

What We Were Wearing - Fall 1951

Here is what women were wearing 60 years ago this month.

After being introduced 3 years previous by Dior, full skirted dresses and skirts are now becoming popular and worn for everyday wear by most women.  The skirts are more bell-shaped than the full circles that will become stylish in a few years.  Most are worn without crinolines for daytime.

Every woman had a basic suit in her closet to wear in town, for meetings with professionals, for shopping in the city, or for dinner at a fancy restaurant.

For more casual daytime wear, a skirt with a blouse, sweater or twin set was the way to go.  Pants were rarely worn by women, and if they were it was strictly for work around the house or farm.

Princess line and swing coats were the newest styles that came about to accommodate the fuller skirts, but many women also wore simple straight coats.

Most women had or wanted a fur jacket or stole in their closets.  For those who could not afford expensive options like mink or fox, there were many made from less costly furs like marmot, mouton and rabbit.

Full skirted styles were popular for evening and cocktail wear.

Evening gowns were elaborate with draped skirts and trains with rich satins being most popular.

No matter who you were, you rarely left the house bare headed.  Hats were a fashion necessity.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Party Dresses

New this week at Couture Allure are lots of vintage party dresses and evening gowns perfect for your holiday celebrations.  Be sure to check our What's New pages to see all the latest listings!

1960s Helen Rose silk party dress

1990s Bill Blass camisole and skirt

1980s Alfred Angelo ball gown with shrug

1960s emerald silk dress and coat set

1990s Arnold Scaasi black lace cocktail dress

1960s metallic pink cocktail dress

Weekend Eye Candy - Pierre Balmain, 1948

Pierre Balmain designed this red velvet gown with attached train for his Fall/Winter 1948 couture collection.  What a way to celebrate the season!

Friday Fur - Balenciaga, 1954

Balenciaga designed this blouson shaped jacket in 1954.  The fur is civet which has an interesting pattern of black and white.  There are dozens of different civet species, some of which are now on the endangered species list.

Last Chance Sale at Couture Allure!

It's our famous Last Chance Sale!  Now through Monday, November 14 you can grab an incredible vintage bargain at Couture Allure!  It's time to make room for new merchandise arriving for Spring 2012 and we need to clear the racks.  All items in our Last Chance sale are priced at $50.00 or less.  The sale includes everything from dresses to suits to coats to evening gowns.  What are you waiting for?  Go claim your bargain today!

1940s gabardine suit, now just $50!

1940s sheer voile dress, now just $50!

1970s cotton Bohemian age dress, now just $50!

1960s Persian lamb trimmed coat, now just $50!

1970s chiffon dress, now just $50!

1980s stunning beaded gown, now just $50!

Vintage Hairstyles for Evening - 1965

In 1965, women would spend hours at the hairdresser before a big event.  Hairstyles were BIG, the bigger the better.  It took a lot of hairspray to make a look like this stay in place all night.  And it took a lot of shampoo to get all that hairspray out the next day.  Even so, it's a lot of fun to wear a hairstyle like this.  I hope these images from 1965 inspire you to do something special with your hair for your holiday parties!

 

Yes, that's Catherine Deneuve

Don't have enough hair for a big hairstyle?  You could always use feathers.......

Meet Sue!

Sue bought this 1960s Pat Sandler wool dress and jacket set from Couture Allure a while back.  She wore it for a girl's night out last weekend.  I love the way she has combined vintage and modern to make a completely unique outfit that really, really works.  Thank you for sharing Sue!

1960s Pat Sandler dress and jacket set from Couture Allure.

Here's the dress without the jacket. 

Does Sue inspire you to mix vintage with your modern wardrobe?

Glam and Glitz for evening - 1967

Let's party like it's 1967! Required - one sparkly dress, glitter stockings, metallic shoes, and big hair.

Geoffrey Beene dress with sequins and mirrors.

Malcolm Starr royal blue dress with cuffs and hem in paillettes, wooden beads and crystals. Sold for $265 in 1967 (about $1692 in today's dollar).

Saks Fifth Avenue private label burnout velvet. Sold for $145 in 1967 (about $926 in today's dollar).

Leslie Fay chiffon dress with back drape. Sold for $36 in 1967 (about $230 in today's dollar).

All from Stix Baer & Fuller, St. Louis' high end department store. Two sparkly mini dresses sold for $40 each in 1967 (about $255 in today's dollar) and the metallic stripe dress with matching coat sold for $225 in 1967 (about $1436 in today's dollar).

It's not too late to get your own 1960's party dress for this holiday season! We've got loads of them at Couture Allure! Go take a look! Big hair not included.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Designer Party Dresses

New at Couture Allure are more party dresses for the holidays!  We've added several designer pieces this week as well.  Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1940s WWII era black velvet dress

1990s Arnold Scaasi Boutique lace dress

1960s metallic brocade dress and coat set

One of several illusion dresses this week.

1990s Sophie Sitbon avant garde dress

1950s Henri Bendel custom silk dress