Another Lilli Ann Dress - 1956

What are the chances?  I open another magazine from 1956 and there is another dress by Lilli Ann!  It makes me wonder if the company was just starting to manufacture dresses at this time, or if it was just that they advertised dresses during the summer months instead of suits.  This deserves more investigation.  This fitted sheath has jutting pockets at the hips and the bust is adorned with embroidery, rhinestones and pearls.  I have to be honest.  I'm not sure if the placement of all that decoration is attractive or unfortunate.  What's your opinion?

Lilli Ann Dress - 1956

Are you surprised?  Yes, this dress from 1956 is by Lilli Ann!  The company did offer a few dresses in their line, but they were best known, of course, for their fabulous suits.  This dress was made from a Lilli Ann exclusive fabric, as all their suits were.  Striped fabric was hand blocked with a print inspired by the Siege of Troy.  The print is accented with hand-cut Austrian crystal rhinestones.  The dress came in black and white or turquoise and white.  Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $337 in today's dollar.)  Do you love it?

And congrats to Vintage Suburbia who was the only person to guess correctly!

Who Doesn't Love Lilli Ann? Part Deux

Adolph Schuman named his company, Lilli Ann, after his wife. Started in 1935 in San Francisco, Lilli Ann grossed over $7,000,000 in 1953. Lilli Ann suits and coats are still sought after today, especially those from the mid 1950s. See more Lilli Ann suits and coats here.

This 1955 suit is fashioned of a fabric called "Trouville", a blend of silk, mohair, and worsted. Check out the seaming on the collar, where the stripes are perfectly matched. Sold in 1955 for about $100.00 (about $814.00 in today's dollar.)

Also from 1955, this suit shows a brilliant use of pleats. Fashioned of a blend of silk, mohair, and worsted, the suit has Austrian crystal accents. Sold in 1955 for about $100.00 (about $814.00 in today's dollar.)

From 1954, this suit literally takes my breath away. The mohair blend fabric is accented with velvet panels. Came in gray with black or beige with brown. Sold in 1954 for about $100.00 (about $811.00 in today's dollar.)

From 1955, this ensemble consists of an empire waisted sheath dress and matching peplum jacket. Available in pink, blue, or beige, this was advertised as a "bride's costume". Sold in 1955 for about $100.00 (about $814.00 in today's dollar.)

From 1956, this suit is made of Sabine stripe fabric woven in France exclusively for Lilli Ann in beige, pink, and gray-blue. The asymmetric collar balances the pockets on the opposite side. Sold in 1956 for about $100.00 (about $802.00 in today's dollar.)

I currently have one Lilli Ann suit available at Couture Allure. This one dates a bit earlier than those shown above, but shows the same ingenious sense of design that flatters a woman's figure. Bargain priced at $175.00 due to some minor moth damage on one sleeve.

New at Couture Allure - Vintage Designer Dresses and Suits

New this week at Couture Allure are lots of designer dresses, evening gowns, and suits. Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the newly listed items!

1950s silk shantung suit by Irene Lentz

1950s Lilli Ann suit with rhinestone buttons.

1970s Bob Mackie couture custom made disco dress.

1980s Richlene beaded crystal pleat evening gown.

1940s cream rayon crepe dress with hip drape.

1960s Arnold Scaasi couture cocktail dress.

Who Doesn't Love Lilli Ann?

Really, how can you not love suits and coats from Lilli Ann? The company, owned by Adolph Schuman, was best known for it's dramatic suits and coats, especially those produced in the 1950s. Those same coats and suits still command high prices today, and are highly prized by both collectors and vintage fashion wearers. Here are a few ads for Lilli Ann that I'm sure will convince you:

1954 suit in a fabric called "Bamboo", a blend of silk chiffon, mohair, and worsted wool. The suit came in blue, cognac, fawn, green, and violet and had big rhinestone adornments at the sleeves. Sold in 1954 for $100.00 (about $817.00 in today's dollar).

Also from 1954, this princess coat was fashioned of a blend of wool and Alaskan seal, with velvet accents. Came in black, red, cognac, natural, and purple. Sold in 1954 for $100.00 (about $817.00 in today's dollar).

From 1956, an extravagant swing coat with a huge sweep, fashioned of black and white tweed accented with black velvet. Sold in 1956 for $100.00 (about $808.00 in today's dollar).

From 1958, a beige linen suit with a detachable fox fur stole. Sold in 1958 for $100.00 (about $760.00 in today's dollar).

Finally, from 1959, a wool crepe suit with dramatic ruffle detail and a large jeweled button. Available in pink, pale blue, coral, turquioise, beige, navy, and white. Sold in 1959 for $70.00 (about $529.00 in today's dollar).

The Look of Suits - 1955

Back in the day, most women had at least one good suit in their closet. Spring was the perfect time to buy a new one, as you could wear it for Easter and then continue to use it for years to come. Take a look at these beauties from 1955. Be prepared to drool.

This Zelinka-Matlick suit was featured in an ad for Miron wool, "the best wool you can put on your back". The hat is by Sally Victor and the fur muff by Fredrica.

A Bergdorf Goodman exclusive, this worsted flannel suit came in gray or navy. Sold for $195 in 1955 (about $1577 in today's dollar).

The Cadillac of suit makers, Lilli Ann, offered this one in an unusual blend of silk, mohair, and worsted wool. "Sleeves are pleated for drama...buckles are from Austria, studded with hand-cut brilliants...in turquoise, coral, pale beige, or mauve blue". Sold for $100 in 1955 (about $809 in today's dollar).

Bonwit Teller offered this suit by Monte-Sano in gray tweed or navy Forstmann wool. It has s shorter double-breasted jacket over a fullish skirt. Jacques Tiffeau was the designer at Monte-Sano at this time, so this is one of his suits. Sold for $235 in 1955 (about $1900 in today's dollar).

Oleg Cassini started designing under his own label in the early 1950s. He always did sexy, even in a simple suit. Va voom!

At Couture Allure, we love vintage suits, and always try to have a nice selection available for you. For spring, I love this 1950s tropical weight gray wool suit by Handmacher. It has sweet smiley pockets and the sleeves can be worn cuffed or not.

Weekend Eye Candy - 1955 Lilli Ann Suit

We can't have a week of suits without showing a design by the incomparable Lilli Ann. This one is from 1955.

1951 Lilli Ann Suit

What's not to love about a Lilli Ann suit? And this one from 1951 is one of the best I've seen. The designer has taken a wool gabardine with a woven stripe at one edge and cut the various pieces of the jacket to showcase the stripes. One sleeve has the stripes across the cap, exactly matching the stripe going across the yoke of the body. The stripe is found on one side of the collar, but not the other. And just so the whole thing looks balanced, a long vertical stripe is appliqued down the opposite side. Genius! This suit sold for $90 in 1951, which equals about $750 today.

Lilli Ann suits are a perennial favorite with vintage fashion afficianados, and this one is available at our website. Here the brown velveteen of the collar is echoed in the sleeve cuffs and velveteen piping edges the slits at the jacket hem. This one is in a larger size, too! Click the picture to see the listing.