Weekend Eye Candy - Hattie Carnegie, 1946

The war is over and elegance returns.  Hattie Carnegie designed this stunning green and gold metallic dinner suit trimmed in mink in 1946.  Note how the strong shoulder line is nicely balanced by the flaring peplum of the jacket.

Weekend Eye Candy - Lucien Lelong, 1946

Lucien Lelong constrasts a pink velvet bodice with layers of pink tulle in this evening gown for Winter 1946. The hemline reveals silver platform shoes.

Vintage Suits - 1946

If you follow this blog, you know I am a sucker for vintage suits. My customers love them too. These images from February, 1946 show just how big the shoulder line became following WWII. I think the strong shoulders were one way a woman could show she was still capable after all the men returned from the service. And after years of austerity and fabric restriction, fashion went a little overboard!

Milgrim Original wool gabardine suit with lots of buttons.

Weiner Original worsted suit with matching coat. Notice the interesting juxtaposition of the ultra-feminine hat with the briefcase. Three pieces sold for $110 in 1946 (about $1234 in today's dollar.)

Jaunty Junior worsted suit with button detail and a tie waist. Sold for $55 in 1946 (about $617 in today's dollar.)

Jablow Original wool suit with a braid tie belt and collarless jacket. Sold for $80 in 1946 (about $898 in today's dollar.)

Halle Bros wool doeskin suit. The belted jacket has yoked shoulders and full blouse-like sleeves with button cuffs.

Shoes - 1946

I love these shoes. I love them more than any shoe I could buy today. I love them more than my comfiest flats. I love them more than my black booties that I can wear all day when shopping at the mall. I love them more than my leopard print pumps that jazz up my little black dress. Made by Newton Elkins in black, red, blue, tan, or gray suede with studs, I love these shoes from 1946. Anybody have a time machine I can borrow?

One Striking Photo

Last week, when I was wandering the Brimfield Antique Show, one of the treasures I brought home was an issue of Vogue magazine from 1946. As I started turning the pages, this ad stopped me cold. I absolutely adore everything I see here, but the printed gloves that match the printed blouse that matches the printed lining of the jacket make me swoon with glee.

This striking photo is an early example of cross merchandising. The ad is for Harzfeld's in Kansas City. Harzfeld's was the high end department store in Kansas City. Revlon kicked in advertising dollars so they could get a tag line for their "Fatal Apple" red lipstick, which the model wears. And in small letters, a second tag line tells us that the suit is by Pattullo. Jo Copeland was the designer for Pattullo, and she was recognized as one of the most talented American designers of the time. But I probably didn't need to tell you that. The gloves say it all!