New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses

New this week at Couture Allure are more fun vintage dresses for spring and summer.  Whether you're looking for bright pops of color or something a bit more understated, we have what you need!  Be sure to check our What's New pages for all the latest listings!

1960s Malcolm Starr beaded evening gown.

1960s Kaspar silk op art shift dress.

1960s Hawaiian floral summer dress.

1960s purple linen dress.

1950s pink butterfly draped dress.

1960s abstract orange silk dress.

Weekend Eye Candy - Robert Piguet, 1950

Wrapping up a week of #IWouldWearYellow, this gorgeous evening gown by Robert Piguet is from his Spring, 1950 collection.  A shorter skirt of tulle ruffles peeks out beneath the deeper yellow silk faille drape. 

Tanner of North Carolina

1963

Tanner of North Carolina is a division of Doncaster and was the name given to the company's clothing sold in retail stores.  Doncaster started business as the Doncaster Collar and Shirt Company in 1931 in Rutherford, NC.  The company was owned by S.B. and Millie Tanner.  In 1935, the Tanner's were presented with the unique opportunity of selling shirtwaist dresses through the Junior League of Charlotte to raise money for their various civic projects.  By the 1950s, the Doncaster line of classic, quality dresses in fine natural fiber fabrics was being sold by in-home wardrobe consultants all across the country. 

1964, Tanner dress made from Liberty of London cotton

About 1954, Doncaster hired Dorothy Cox as the designer.  Cox's name appeared on the label and was used in all advertisements for the Tanner of North Carolina line.  The Tanner of North Carolina label was used for the clothing sold in retail stores, while the Doncaster line continued to be sold by in-home consultants.

1966

Today, the Doncaster company continues to sell their Doncaster and Elana lines of clothing through in-home consultants in all 50 states.  The Tanner name is used for their outlet stores located throughout the southern states.

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?

Fashion Photographer F.C. Gundlach

Petticoat, 1959

F.C. Gundlach was Germany's best known fashion photographer during the post war years.   In 1953, he began working for Film und Frau magazine.  He photographed the work of Berlin fashion designers, the Paris haute couture, and did portraits of international film stars for the magazine.  The photos shown here today were taken during the years he worked for Film und Frau.

Navy dress with bolero by Staebe-Seger, 1956

Actress Marina Vlady on her 16th birthday, 1954

Silk print shirtdress by Horn, 1957

Evening makeup, 1957

#IWouldWearYellow

 Megan wore this stand-out yellow dress on "Mad Men" last week.  Do you love it?  I do! 

Jessica Simpson wearing yellow in 2010

Then, a couple of nights later on "Fashion Star", Jessica Simpson and Nicole Ritchie both said "I would wear yellow" in response to Terron Schaefer of Saks who said he wasn't a fan of Lisa Hunter's yellow coat.  Jessica tweeted #IWouldWearYellow, and the phrase has now become a popular hashtag.

1956, swimsuits by Cole

 Yellow is an attention grabbing color, even more so than white or red, and it will get you noticed!

1966, cape by Jean Patou

 Yellow can be a difficult color to wear and you should be careful to choose a shade that compliments your skin tone.  But the color is bright and happy and you'll convey that mood when you wear it.

1971, dress by Daniel Hechter

 Yellow comes and goes in popularity, but if you like to wear this color, now is your moment!  We're seeing celebrities wear bright yellow on the red carpet, there is lots of yellow in stores for summer, and I predict this trend will continue into fall.

Emily Blunt wearing Elie Saab, April 2012

If you'd like to add some yellow to your wardrobe, we've got lots of vintage choices from the 1950s and 60s at Couture Allure right now! 

Vintage dresses in yellow, now available at Couture Allure!

Branell Dress and Sweater Sets - 1956

Clare Potter and Mainbocher are among the first designers credited with decorating sweaters to match dresses in their collections.  Here are two versions shown by Branell in 1956.  Branell was a high-end line of dresses, suits and coats designed in New York by Hilda Altmark.  Not inexpensive, the line was on par with other high-end labels, such as Originala, Harvey Berin and George Carmel.

The dress on the left is fashioned of pin-tucked fabric decorated with organza-filled cut-outs and beading on the skirt.  The sweater is decorated to match.  The dress on the right is lined lace with a matching lace decorated sweater.  Manufacturers would purchase sweaters from other makers to use as a base for decoration.  It is likely that the sweaters shown here are high quality cashmere, used to match the quality of the dresses.  I love both sets.  What about you?

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses

New this week at Couture Allure are more vintage dresses for spring and summer and a couple of fabulous evening coats.  Be sure to check our What's New pages to see all the latest listings!

1970s silver sequin evening coat.

1960s gold brocade opera coat.

1950s Jane Andre silk dress with big bow and streamers.

1960s pleated flower garden dress.

1950s polka dot cotton dress.

1950s flocked dots party dress.

Weekend Eye Candy - Jean Barthet, 1958

It is only fair that I finish a week of hats with another wonderful example, this one by Jean Barthet from 1958.  Isn't it amazing what a simple rose can do for a hat?  What does your Easter bonnet look like? 

How to Buy a Hat #5

Final tips when buying a hat:

- Wear color or florals on your head with tailored suits and coats. This brings the eye up to your face.

- When choosing a turban style, leave some hair showing at the brow, and consider letting some curls escape at the back or side. Don't hide all your hair, and don't wear a turban over long flowing locks.

And finally, if you wear glasses, choose more feminine style hats, but avoid veils, which can get tangled in your frames.

I hope you've enjoyed this series on how to buy a hat. Now go! Make the world a more beautiful place! Wear a hat!

1954

How to Buy a Hat #4

Tip #4 when buying a hat:

"Try to buy your hat for a specific costume or wardrobe. And when you are buying it, try to have the costume either on, at at least with you. The hat that sits in your closet is the hat that you can't afford. Charm is reason enough for buying a hat, but if it can make itself socially agreeable to your clothes - so much the better!"

Again, this rule applies to all accessory purchases. You may love it, but does it work with the rest of your wardrobe? It is better to buy one hat that you can wear with multiple outfits, than to buy one hat and then have to buy a new outfit to go with it.

As an example, the wonderful gold sweater with matching turban above by Florence Reichman makes a stylish set. But can she really wear the turban with other items in her wardrobe? Probably not.

How much more practical and versatile are these fedoras from Dobbs? Still fashionable, yet they would probably work with many more items hanging in your closet.

How to Buy a Hat #3

Tip #3 when buying a hat:

"Always look at the back view of your tentative hat. Sometimes, wide 'sustaining' bands will spoil the look of your hair; streamers can look ridiculous; and sometimes a dreamy sweep of straw will crumble into a linear apology in the back. Be stringent. Never buy a hat that is becoming from only one angle."

Just as you would check the back and side views if you were buying a dress, you should check those views when buying a hat.

The hat above is a white felt postilion by Dobbs, from January 1941.

What's a sustaining band? Many hats from the late 30's into the 40's were worn tipped forward over the brow and needed a band slipped over the back of the head to hold them in place. Often times, it was just a thin elastic cord, but I've also seen many with thicker bands like this.

1939

How to Buy a Hat #2

Tip #2 when buying a hat:

"Always stand up when you are buying a hat. Many's the lady who, framed in the little square mirror, looks charmingly proportioned, only to find, when she rises that she looks either pinheaded, or top-heavy. Never buy a hat the day you are experimenting with a new coiffure. You'll end up throwing them both away!"

Good advice, and one I would suggest when buying jewelry or belts too. It's important to see how your accessories look when compared to your entire body in a full length mirror. And take dramatic changes in small steps. If you're not used to wearing a hat, be sure it works with your current hair style before buying.

The hat above features red roses on a black and white striped base with an alluring spotted siren veil. By Walter Florell, January 1941.

Hat by LeGroux Soeurs, 1951

How To Buy a Hat #1

In honor of Easter bonnets, this week I am republishing a series I did in 2008 about choosing the correct hat for yourself.  I hope you enjoy!

Vogue magazine's January 15, 1941 issue was all about hats, hats, and more hats. This week, I'll feature their tips for how to buy a hat. After all, "no hat is worth buying unless it makes you look prettier than you ever looked before. No woman can really explain why she buys a hat anyway. She just feels a great big urge to set something pretty on her head. All she really knows is that the 'something pretty' has a delicious psychological effect, and buying it is always a kind of spiritual adventure. Hats are emotional stuff..."


In this day and age, it's hard to find hats in stores, unless you're shopping for vintage. But have you ever tried on hats? There is something about them that does make a woman feel different, and believe me, if you wear one you will get noticed! I wear a hat sometimes when I go out, and I always get a positive comment or two. Modern designers have been showing hats on the runways for the past several seasons, so it's time to go buy a hat! Here's how:

"1. Always buy a hat as if it were the only one you'll have. That doesn't mean it must be a stern-brimmed pull-on. It merely means that it must be thoroughly in tune with you at your most attractive. Don't be above getting a touch cosmic about your hat - of asking 'But is it ME?'"

Above, a classic swagger hat in white felt with a snap brim bound in navy grosgrain with a band and bow in the same. By Knox.

Hat by Rose Valois, 1950

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Dresses

New at Couture Allure this week are more vintage dresses for spring and summer and a Chanel skirt!  Be sure to check our What's New pages to see all the latest listings.

1950s glazed cotton circle skirt dress with halter.

1970s psychedelic jersey dress.

1960s psychedelic linen shift dress.

1960s striped cotton full skirt dress.

1960s Serbin cherry tree applique dress.

1980s Chanel black skirt with CC buttons (back shown.)