Jonny Herbert Dresses - 1958

"Jonny Herbert does the Capri de Havana" So goes the title of a several page ad from a 1958 magazine. Jonny Herbert was a Seventh Avenue company that specialized in junior sized cocktail and evening dresses in the 1950s and 60s. The Hotel and Casino de Capri in Havana, Cuba, was built in 1957 and opened in November of that year. The 19 story hotel and casino had a rooftop pool and was built by mobster Santo Trafficante as a draw for vacationing Americans. The ad pages feature Jonny Herbert dresses in various shots taken in the hotel, casino, and the surrounding Havana neighborhood.

Above, a Chantilly lace dress that was available in white, pink, blue, and black. Sold for $49 in 1958 (about $373 in today's dollar).

Pin dot taffeta strapless dress with matching jacket came in navy, gray, and blue. Sold for $39 in 1958 (about $296 in today's dollar).

Rose printed silk surah dress with bows at the shoulders came in green, royal, and red. Sold for $39 in 1958 (about $296 in today's dollar).

Taffeta bubble skirt dress with buttons at the front came in navy or black. Sold for $35 in 1958 (about $266 in today's dollar).

I love the composition of this photo. The model wears a silk/linen sheath dress with matching jacket and is surrounded by Cubans. The suit was available in navy, black, blue, and beige. Sold for $55 in 1958 (about $418 in today's dollar).

By the way, the Hotel de Capri closed in 2003 and today sits empty and derelict. You can see the rooftop pool in the opening scene of the 1959 film "Our Man in Havana".