Pleats Please, 1962

This yummy evening dress was designed by Jo Copeland for Patullo in 1962.  Made of pleated black crepe with criss-crossed bands forming the neckline and falling to a bow at the back.  The raised waistline was fashion news in 1962.  Notice how it allows the pleats to hug the body so the dress fits in a way reminiscent of a Fortuny Delphos.  The dress sold for about $200 in 1962 ($1565.00 in today's dollar.)

Photo by Horst P. Horst for Vogue magazine, 1962

Weekend Eye Candy - Yves St. Laurent, 1962

Another piece from Yves St. Laurent's first couture collection under his own label.  This white silk evening gown has a lace bodice and train.

Yves St. Laurent Suits from his First Collection Spring 1962

In the spring of 1962, Yves St. Laurent showed his first couture collection under his own label.  His designs were an immediate success and one of the most famous couture houses in history was on it's way to influencing fashion the world over for years to come.  Here are some of the lady-like suits St. Laurent showed in that first collection.  Note his use of contrast fabrics for separate little blouses and other details. 

Vibrant red wool suit accented with a navy blue blouse in mohair voile and a double row of gold buttons.

Beige and brown wool tweed suit with a beige wool blouse that buttons asymmetrically and has a big detachable black silk bow.  Wide brimmed hat to match in the same tweed.

The same tweed suit without the jacket, showing the details of the blouse.

A white wool suit accented with a gray and white printed silk fabric 

for the belt, the blouse and the hat band.

Wool houndstooth suit with a collarless jacket.  The bronze silk blouse shows at the collar and at the hip.  Shown with a matching houndstooth "cowboy" hat.

Pierre Cardin Jewelry, 1962

I must apologize for my random posting of late.  Things are a bit crazy in my personal life right now.  In the meantime, I thought you might get a kick out of this necklace and bracelet made from plastic grapes by Pierre Cardin in 1962.

How to Wear a Little Black Dress

Take a simple black sheath (you DO own one, don't you?), add a belt and pearls.  Classic yes, but still a bit safe.  Now jazz your look up with a fabulous wide brimmed hat.  That's how you wear a Little Black Dress!  Hat by Mr. John, 1962.

LAST CALL FOR WINNERS!  I still have not heard from 3 of the winners of the book "Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style" from last week's giveaway.  If you entered the contest, please be sure to check your email as I need to get your address to the PR firm that is sending the books.  If I don't hear from you today, I will have to choose different winners.

Weekend Eye Candy - Mme. Gres, 1962

Our final June bride for this year wears a wedding gown by Mme. Gres from 1962.  I love the idea of a hat instead of a bridal headpiece.  Do you?

Weekend Eye Candy - Givenchy, 1962

This sumptuous evening gown by Givenchy is from 1962.  The bodice is covered in pink, blue and silver sequins which sets off the rose pink silk satin skirt to perfection.  Audrey Hepburn was Givenchy's muse and I can certainly see her wearing this gown, can't you?

How About a Blouse Instead of That T-Shirt?

One of the things I find sad about modern fashion is how casual we've become. Now that jeans and t-shirts are ubiquitous, it seems many of us have lost our flair for dressing well. Though knits are comfortable, most modern t-shirts and knit tops are made of such cheap fabric that they look a bit bedraggled after only a few washings. Why not choose a vintage blouse instead?

A vintage blouse is a great way to bring the past into your wardrobe without breaking the bank. And if you have trouble finding vintage dresses that fit, a blouse will be more forgiving, especially if you don't have a tiny waist. Pair a vintage blouse with a skirt, pants, or even jeans. Layer it under a jacket or cardigan for a look that is polished and different. The blouses shown here are all from 1962.

Shapely Classic blouse printed with blue and green leaves. Sold in 1962 for $5 (about $37 in today's dollar.) Hat by Sally Victor.

Lady Manhattan shirt with French cuffs adorned with big jeweled cuff links. Sold in 1962 for $6 (about $44 in today's dollar.) Hat by Emme.

Vera silk blouse in white with big black dots, worn with a black silk scarf. Sold in 1962 for $12 (about $88 in today's dollar.)

Mollie Parnis white silk blouse with button and buttonhole detail all the way around the collar. Belted in black patent.

Do you have blouses in your wardrobe? Have you ever tried a vintage blouse? Should I carry more vintage blouses at Couture Allure?

Suits for Spring - 1962

Suits were an important part of every woman's wardrobe back in the day. Women would often buy a new suit for Easter and then wear it for years and years. These incredible feats of tailoring are from 1962. Do you wear suits?

Christian Dior

Lanvin-Castillo

Pierre Cardin

Pierre Balmain

Yves St. Laurent, from his first collection for his own label.

Vintage hats - 1962

Rose Valois

By 1962, hats had begun to wane in popularity, especially with younger women. Jacqueline Kennedy hated wearing hats, and only did so due to the protocol of her husband's office as President. Hat shapes changed to accomodate the larger bouffant hairdos of the time, and we see many bubble and Breton styles.

Claude St-Cyr

Paulette

Lanvin Castillo

Jean Barthet

The Look of Suits - 1962

It's 1962, and women's suits look very different from just a few years earlier. Jackets are shorter and boxier. Skirts are also shorter and slim-cut, often with a few tiny gathers over the hips. Many suits consist of a dress with matching jacket. But they're all elegant and supremely lady-like.

Maurice Rentner suit in red, white, and navy. The wool suit comes with a white cotton pique blouse decorated with the same ribbon that edges the jacket. Hat by Emme.

Frank Gallant wool tweed in a mix of black, brown, and white belted and buttoned in leather. Sold for $190 in 1962 (about $1350 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.

Branell linen and wool blend tweed in pale beige with black silk binding and buttons. Sold for $185 in 1962 (about $1314 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.

Travilla white wool boucle flecked with orange suit with an orange silk chiffon blouse. Hat by Sally Victor. Jewelry by Cadoro.

Marquise diagonal worsted wool in sandy beige with a buff-color silk blouse. Straw breton hat by Mr. John. Sold for $215 in 1962 (about $1527 in today's dollar). Hat by Mr. John.