Wearing White, 1959

Christian Dior

White, white, white is the HOT color for spring 2011, as it was for spring of 1959. Shown here are white garments from that year. Will you be adding white to your wardrobe this season?

Originala white wool fleece coat with dramatic fox fur collar.
Worn with a white skirt by Sloat.

Ben Reig white wool lace sack dress,
accented with jeweled pin and turquoise shoes.

B. H. Wragge white wool doeskin dress with relaxed shape.

B.H. Wragge white wool jersey swimsuit.

Teeny Bikini, 1959

Yes, 1959! Are you surprised? I sure was! Like most of you, I would have guessed 1970s. Perhaps more suprising, this image is from an American fashion magazine! The magazine used this photo as a tickler for a spread on swimsuits called, "South: The Rebirth of the Body." It suggested a woman might dare to wear this bikini "to bathe from a lonely beach in a great empty ocean....or for....a deserted early morning hour on the beach, a trip to an uninhabited cove."

The Darlene green Ban-Lon bikini sold at Bonwit Teller.

Of course, the magazine realizes the reality for the American woman....." she will no doubt be less abandoned and poetic. Trimming her sails to social propriety, she will pull on one of the dashing but more modest bathing suits" like this one. Sea B's elasticized Orlon maillot in black and white. It will be another 15 years or so before the teeny green bikini will become accepted as the norm.

Evening Gowns for Spring - 1959

Our look at fashion for spring ends with evening gowns from 1959. Gowns with ruffles. Gowns in chiffons. Gowns in pastel shades. Gowns for a spring cotillion. Which is your favorite?

Chanel

Mme. Grés

Pierre Balmain

Christian Dior

Pierre Cardin

Party Dresses - 1959

Are you going to a holiday party this weekend? Do you have your dress picked out yet? Today, looks from 1959.

Luis Estevez emerald green silk strapless ball gown with bow at waist. Sold for $225 in 1959 (about $1,691 in today's dollar.) Love the brooch worn at the waist.

Henry Rosenfeld white brocade dress with a full skirt and bow at front. Sold for $18 in 1959 (about $125 in today's dollar.)

Emma Domb bisque taffeta strapless gown with beading at the bodice and a matching stole. Sold for $85 in 1959 (about $639 in today's dollar.) Check out those angled folds at the top of the skirt!

Rappi white silk strapless sheath with an aquamarine floating panel at the back. The bodice is embroidered. Sold for $125 in 1959 (about $940 in today's dollar.)

Kay Selig emerald satin strapless bubble dress. Sold for $50 in 1959 (about $376 in today's dollar.)

Anne Fogarty white satin sheath with matching coat lined in Rex rabbit fur. Rex rabbit is lush and soft and mimics chinchilla. There's another brooch worn at the waist. Sold for $350 in 1959 (about $2,631 in today's dollar.)