1958 Coats by Shag-Glow

Continuing our perusal of the October 1958 Seventeen magazine, here is an ad for Shag-Glow coats. The ad copy reads, "The Long and Short of it, Luxurious Shag-Glow Coats, You'll love the genuine comfort and soft warmth of these coats...made of the finest 100% pure wool fabric. Moth proofed for the life of the garment. Long about $35 - Short about $25. Colors: Burnt Orange, Winter Sea Green, Burnt Yellow."



$35 in 1958 is about $261 today. $25 in 1958 is about $187 today, so these would be considered nicer quality coats. Shag-Glow was a label put out by Hampshire Fashions on 7th Avenue in New York. The "Faribo Woolen Fabric" was an exclusive fabric by Faribault Woolen Mills.



These are simply styled day coats, worn in this photo with matching hats and gloves. I love the color names, although they look simply orange, turquoise, and brown to me! All three coats have raglan sleeves, the orange with a deeper dolman armhole. They have simple collars buttoned all the way up. The orange coat has a curved pocket and a half belt buttoned on at the sides. The brown coat has a vertical welted pocket.



Want the look? Here is a similar coat at Couture Allure on EBay.

80s Shoes, Belts, and Purses This Week at Couture Allure

We recently were lucky enough to find an estate purchase of TONS of vintage 1980s clothing and accessories. Most of the goods were new, never used with the tags still attached. The woman just loved to go shopping, and she had wild taste!

You'll find most of the accessories up for auction this week at Couture Allure on EBay. Check out our Buy It Now listings in our store while you're there, as several of the belts and party dresses have been listed for your quick purchase this way. And you'll find most of the belts over at our Retro Vision Vintage store on Etsy. Enjoy!

Another 1958 Teena Paige Dress

3 pages away from the ad I posted yesterday, there is a second Teena Paige dress ad, this one for The White House in San Francisco. The ad copy states, "Basketweave textured 100% wool Blouson Sheath with face framing collar. Novelty pin accents tab. In red, royal, copper. $17.95" That's $134.00 today.

This is another dress that I would have dated as early 60's if I came across it today. I associate that rolled collar with the 60's, but I've learned something! The dress bodice has little faux pocket flaps below the bustline. The one shown has a gold Maltese cross pin, which came with the dress. The model is wearing short white gloves and a bronze wide bangle bracelet with matching earrings.

There is a coupon attached to order the dress which states, "Please add 40 cents for postage and handling." That works out to $2.98 in today's dollar. Wake up call to the USPS!!!!! Today, it would cost us $10-$15 to have this dress shipped from California. Jeez.

1958 Teena Paige Dress

Here is another ad from the October 1958 issue of Seventeen magazine. This dress is by the Teena Paige company, a New York manufacturer of dresses for teens. The description of the dress states, "Bouson Sheath...contrasting printed "tie-silk" cotton sateen bow and matching belt. In sagproof 100% wool jersey by Lebanon. In camel, turquoise, and coral." Included in the ad is a coupon to order the dress from Best's Apparel in Seattle, WA for $14.95. Using a cost calculator, this dress would be $111.50 today, so this was not an inexpensive piece of clothing.

I like the touch of the belt matching the ascot tie. So often, the belts are missing when I find vintage dresses from this era, but I really think this printed belt "makes" the dress. The blouson bodice probably has a straight underbodice or lining so the blouson holds its shape. The model has a short, curled hairstyle and is wearing short white gloves and gold bangle bracelets pushed up to the elbow. She is definitely wearing a girdle for that smooth look around the hip area, and the dress has either been tightly clipped around the knees or the photo was airbrushed before publication!

"Sagproof wool jersey"....I wonder how they did that before the invention of spandex or lycra? After all, no one likes a saggy butt on their dress after they've been sitting in it!

Vintage Vera Scarves

Do you love Vera scarves? We've just listed 15 of her scarves in our Retro Vision Vintage store on Etsy. And if you want to learn more about Vera, my friend and colleague Lizzie at The Vintage Traveler recently interviewed Vera's nephew for her blog. Enjoy some eye candy there, as well as right here!

50s Prints in Fall 2008

By now, I'm sure you've seen several of the looks from Michael Kors Fall 2008 line. I love the prints, but maybe that's because I work with them all the time in my business as a vintage clothing dealer. That's right ladies, these prints come straight out of the late 50's and early 60's. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Kors had authentic vintage prints copied by his fabric suppliers for use in this season's offerings.

If you read this blog regularly, you can probably guess what I'm going to say next. Why not wear authentic vintage instead of new copies that are not as well made nor as charming as the originals?










We've got lots of these darker floral prints coming up in the next couple of months, but the two dresses here are available now at coutureallure.com. Click the pictures for a direct link to the dresses.

1958 Velveteen Party Dress

Velveteen Party Pet $10.95 - Gets all the Glances, Gets all the Dances

This ad is from the October 1958 issue of Seventeen Magazine. Here is the description given in the ad:
"Youre the center of all eyes...in your Party Pet...the line...the look that's new for the season, fun for the Holidays. A tiny waistline clings down to the hips, then swings wide and handsome for the prettiest whirl ever. The princess line is styled just right for you. The ringing of your telephone will tell you it's true. In vibrant velveteen, that does special things for young figures. Yummy Party Red or Royal Blue."

Included in the ad is a coupon to order the dress for $10.95 (!) from Braunstein's in Wilmington, DE.

You probably can't see the details in my scan, but the dress has a full circle skirt sewn flat to a dropped waist. Gathers or pleats would be too bulky in velveteen. I'll bet that bateau neckline drops to a V in the back. The model is wearing short white gloves, a gold chain necklace, and red flats. And underneath, you know she's wearing a girdle to get that tiny waist and a full crinoline or two for whirling and twirling.

I love the marketing in the ad, especially the line in the header about "Gets all the glances, gets all the dances". Later they tell you you're going to get all kinds of phone calls from guys because you've worn this dress to the dance. I'm not sure what's so great about velveteen that it does special things for young figures. But you've got to love a dress called the Party Pet.



Not a circle skirt, but red velveteen from about the same time. This one is available at www.coutureallure.com.

Vintage 60s Mod Orange Coat

I am over-the-moon in love with this coat. It's vintage mid to late 1960's and completely Mod. And it's orange. How could you not love an orange coat?


Narciso Rodriguez showed a bright burst of an orange coat in his Fall/Winter 2008 line. Ralph Lauren, Nina Ricci, and Prada also showed bright orange for fall.



Take a look at the details of that 1960's coat. The strong geometric seams are accented with topstitching. And those buttons? They have hot pink centers. Pair this coat with hot pink tights and you've got an eye-popping and eye-catching outfit that is true vintage but fits right in with today's style trends.

See this coat at Couture Allure on EBay. Click the top photo to see the details.

Vintage 50s Alencon Illusion Lace Dress

Alencon lace: Fine needlepoint lace with designs on a sheer net ground outlined with cordonnet. Named for the town of Alencon, France.

Click the photo to see the dress, available at Couture Allure on EBay.

What is a Trench Coat?

What makes a trench coat a trench coat? The trench coat is a classic style created by Thomas Burberry during WW1. According to "The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion", a trench coat should have the following style details:

- Double breasted with a convertible collar that has large lapels
- Shoulder epaulets
- Self-fabric belt, sometimes with a buckle, but usually worn tied
- Slotted pockets
- Back vent
- Extra hanging yoke in back
- Extra flap hanging from front right shoulder

Not mentioned in the dictionary, but also usually found in classic trench coats:

- Leather buttons
- Removeable lining
- Raglan sleeves with cuff straps



This 1970's ladies trench coat is fashioned from wool herringbone tweed and is available from Couture Allure on EBay.

Women adapted the trench coat in the 1940's, and it has become a classic style. Do you have one in your closet?

Suit-able for Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich was a major factor in making menswear looks popular for women. She wore a tuxedo and top hat in her first American film Morocco, made in 1930.



She continued to wear trouser suits off screen as well as on. Travis Banton designed many of them, which she would wear with a man's shirt and tie and a fedora style hat. No one but Marlene could manage to look so feminine in such severe styles.



We just listed this 1940's tuxedo style suit at our site. Certainly Dietrich worthy, it will look great with or without that shirt and tie!

See this suit and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion.

I Am in Love with Irving Schechter

And I don't know who he is! This 1940's suit jacket makes my heart swoon. The label says "Irving Schechter Original of California" and I can't find any information about it. But if you know Irving, please tell him I love him.

Air Conditioning - or Baby! It's Cold Inside!

Air conditioning - ahhhh. In my opinion, it's one of the 20th century's greatest inventions, but only when I control the thermostat. Here in Boston, we've been dealing with hot weather and unusually high humidity the last couple of weeks. I hate hot and humid almost more than the below-freezing artic winds we get in February and March. As long as my AC is set to 75 degrees, I'm happy.

But try going out to a restaurant or to the movies! I swear, corporate and retail America has no concern for the environment with thermostats set at what feels like 65 degrees. I have to carry a sweater or hoodie with me whenever I go out. It makes no sense!



That's why this 1950's dress is just so perfect. Made of lightweight rayon that has the look and texture of linen, it will be cool and comfortable out in the heat. And it comes with a cute matching jacket to throw on when you go indoors, so your shoulders don't turn into ice cubes.

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion.

Introducing the New Couture Allure Website!

www.coutureallure.com

We've been working for months on our new website at coutureallure.com, and today we are proud to say, "Welcome!" This has been a true labor of love, and we hope it shows. We've been saving the "best of the best" of our vintage finds for quite awhile in order to offer you a wide selection of hand-picked vintage dresses, suits, coats, and accessories.



We've listened to your requests, and have made each category searchable by size and era. There's a handy Search Box if you prefer to shop that way. We now accept major credit cards through our secure server.



We'd love to hear what you think! Enjoy!



P.S. - That 1960's yellow beaded silk evening ensemble I posted last time? Here it is.

From Hanger to Heavenly

I went on a vintage buy the other day. I found this 1960's beaded evening gown - I've seen what seems like a million of 'em in my time as a vintage seller. Hanging next to it was what looked like a matching maxi vest. It seemed odd and was likely to be really ugly in that designer knock-off "trying too hard" way, but I bought it anyway. Today, I pulled it out and put it on the mannequin.

Did you ever have the experience while shopping that a dress has absolutely no appeal on the hanger, but when you put it on, it was magic? Take a look at this.



That's not a maxi vest - it's a cloak! A gorgeous, sophisticated evening cloak that takes the dress from simple to sensational - from basic to breathtaking.

Here's the hard part. It's not listed yet. But I promise it will be available soon!

Train Your Vintage Eye

Here's another vintage 1950's dress similar to the one posted yesterday in our Vintage Quiz. Can you see the difference? The length on this one is 46" from shoulder to hem and the hem is original. Compare that to the 38" length on the dress posted yesterday. To some people, those 8" don't make a bit of difference, and they'd be very happy wearing the second dress. I prefer authenticity, and in my opinion, a cut hem does affect the value of a vintage dress. How do you feel about it?

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

A Vintage Quiz

Here's a little quiz to see how discerning your eye is. What's wrong with this 1950's dress? No, I'm not talking about the missing button. There is something about this dress that is very obviously wrong. Take a good long look at the photo and see if you can find it.

I was thinking about titling this post "DON'T DO THIS", but I wasn't sure how many people would respond positively to that. I could have titled it "What Not to Do", but that was too close to one of my favorite TV shows.

Did you figure it out yet? Hint - the dress has been altered, probably in the 80's.

Here's a cute picture of my dog:



No, Zippy didn't alter the dress! I just needed to fill in some space on this post, so the answer to the quiz didn't pop out before you had a chance to figure it out. He is cute though, no?

Answer: The dress has been shortened about 8" from its original length. What's worse, its been cut off and shortened. DON'T DO THIS!!!! There, I said it. Please, I'm begging you, if you must shorten a vintage dress, leave the original length in the portion that you fold up. That way, the next owner can let the hem back down if she wants. I spend alot of time restoring original hem lengths to 1950's dresses that were shortened in the 60's. Hey, fashions change. Hem lengths go up and down. That's OK. But step away from the scissors.....please!

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Shop Early for Best Selection

I've always disliked that phrase, no matter how true it may be. But the fact remains that you can't find a decent bathing suit at the mall when the temperatures finally decide to soar in June. And you can't find a stylish winter coat when you need one in February.

I'd like to tell you that it is different with vintage clothing, but we sold out of bathing suits in March. We started photographing and listing winter coats in May, and many of our best for this year are already sold. Style takes planning!

For those of you who are thinking about your winter coat while sitting on the beach, may we offer these for your consideration?

1940's Emerald Princess Coat:



1980's Pauline Trigere Coat:



1960's Tapestry Coat with Fox Collar:



1950's Black Velvet Swing Coat:



See these coats and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .