Dresses for the Heat of Summer - 1956

Air conditioning was not mainstream in 1956.  Some public buildings offered it, but at home window units were expensive and uncommon.  Women tried to stay cool by wearing lightweight fabrics, although slips, bras and girdles were still de rigueur.  Today, summer dresses from 1956 that were made to beat the heat.

Pink and white checked cotton lawn is criss-crossed with insertion lace for a light airy effect.  Larry Aldrich.  Sold for $110 in 1956 (about $914 in today's dollar.)

Cotton voile in black with copper colored dots.  Oleg Cassini.  Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $582 in today's dollar.)

A sweet cotton poplin playsuit gets dressed up for town by wearing a co-ordinating floral skirt over it.  Both pieces by Pat Premo.  Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $332 in today's dollar.)

Semi-sheer cotton voile in a cool champagne color fashions a simple shirtwaist dress.  Vera Stewart.  Sold for $95 in 1956 (about $789 in today's dollar.)  Mr. John lace hat.

White pintucked cotton batiste with rows of insertion lace layered over pale yellow lining.  Harvey Berin.  Sold for $175 in 1956 (about $1454 in today's dollar.)

How do you dress to stay cool in summer?

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.

I Want This Dress

After my rant on Monday about my experience at the mall, I not at all surprised that General Growth Properties, second largest mall operator in the US, has filed for bankruptcy. Judging by your response to that post, I am not alone in disliking "The Shopping Mall". The retail industry is in for a bumpy ride over the next couple of years, and we are going to see many stores disappear. Hopefully, the retailers that are left will recognize that we want a better experience when we shop. Enough said - stepping off the soapbox and moving on.

I want this dress. Everything about it is perfect - the color, the drape, the long sash tie, and the fact that it looks timeless. Care to guess when it was made? Looks modern doesn't it? Go ahead, guess.

Of course, you know this blog does not feature modern clothing, so you won't be able to run to the dreaded mall and buy it today. If you could, you would find it made of polyester dreck, or maybe cheap silk if you're lucky. But, my friends, this dress is infinitely better than that. It is made of wool chiffon, a high-end, very lightweight wool with a crepe weave. Did you know that lightweight wool is very comfortable to wear in the summer? Because it is a natural fiber, it breathes and keeps you cool - unlike polyester, which will make you feel like you are wearing a sweat box. Wool drapes beautifully, resists wrinkles, and won't give you a problem with static cling. I really want this dress.

Did you guess? It was made in 1963 by Oleg Cassini Young America. If anyone out there ever finds this dress, please send it to me. I covet this dress. I need this dress. I must have this dress.