Vintage or Retro: 1950's Sun Dress

Isn't is amazing how REAL vintage is often better priced than the copies? This example compares a light blue denim 1950's sun dress with a super cute buttoned back against a new retro style copy in orange. As you look closely, notice that the vintage has many more details, like the great pockets. Both have eye catching full skirt panels in multi-color tones, both are sleeveless with scoop necklines.

When is comes to comfort, the orignal denim model is all cotton, while the copy has more polyester than cotton in the fabric. Both have back details, the 50's style actually buttons closed, so it can be made to fit just by moving a few buttons over. The new version has fake buttons and a side zipper.

What really boggles the mind is that the copy is nearly $100, but the original dress is less than $90. Kinda makes you stop and think, doesn't it!



Original Dress is for sale HERE in our PintuckStyle shop on Etsy.

Copy dress is available at ModCloth, which lists "vintage clothing" in the tag (shame on them!)

Audrey's Trench Coat

A bit of inspiration for winter styling, this adorable photo of Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant comes from 1963, and shows her wearing a trench coat, as she made so popular in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a few years earlier.

Photo source: "Look" magazine, December 1963 (nearly 50 years ago!)

Gloria Swanson: A 20th century 'New Woman'

Gloria Swanson was an early film actress, born in 1899, she lived through the boom years of the film industry. By today's standards, Gloria was far ahead of most women in her day. Her acting career brought fame and wealth to her, giving her the flexibility to work on many projects that would benefit women and others. One of these was her ongoing design partnership with an American fashion company, Puritan Fashion Corp, from 1950 through 1982 (she would have been 83 years old at the time). For Purtain, Gloria designed for the "Forever Young" label, traveling around the country showcasing her styles and giving women advice on style and beauty.









Gloria Swanson's interests were wide: the arts, politics and inventions are included in her roster or achievements. A champion of natural foods, she campaigned in the 1950's for product labeling and food additive legislation. She also championed women on many levels. Politically she would protest tax rates for single people (1972) and supported the rights of senior citizens (1980's).

Overall, many of her achievements are unknown. In the end, she was obviously an amazing 'New Woman' of the 20th century!

The "Forever Young" labeled dresses seen here show Gloria's best fashion design technique: have texture and visual interest at the neckline, and widen the shoulders so that the hips appear more narrow. Add to that a flared skirt or hipline pockets as artful drapery. The pink lace dress above has a trim in bias cording that is scrolled around the neckline and around a flared skirt hem. The blue linen dress has a neckline trim of dyed to matched textured lace with rhinestone details.

Gloria would design dresses to flatter the average woman's figure. She didn't try to cinch in a waist to tightly or cut sleeve too short. These flattering dresses have a great fit for most women, and continue today to be sought after for their 1950's vintage styling that fit a modern contemporary figure.

Find out more about Gloria Swanson:
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin:

The Blue dress is currently offered for sale in our shop.
The Pink dress has been sold.

Great VINTAGE FASHION blogs

Here's a few Vintage Fashion blogs that I think are great fun.
See one you haven't visited before?
Cruise by and say "hi".

Couture Allure Vintage Fashion
Such eye candy! I just love to see what beauties she's found. They are always gorgeous.

Wearing History
Neat articles about fashion history, along with sewing projects.
It's a fun read.

Vestedbee Vintage
I love the way she styles and wears her vintage finds.
This is a great jumping off point into fashion trends with vintage pieces.


Image photo: Fall/Winter 1960
Both outfits are in plaid wool by Jacques Tiffeau, who won his first Coty Award that year as an American designer.

Lilli Ann: 1950's Swing Coat

In vintage fashion, a Lilli Ann label brings to mind the San Francisco design house that specialized in drama and fashion flash. It is noted for wonderful wool coats and suits produced following WWII. Although the company history spans several decades, the late 1940's through mid-1960's era are probably the most popular eras for Lilli Ann collectors. I wanted to share one of my Lilli Ann study garments with you. It dates from the early to mid-1950's.
Probably the first thing you will notice is the sheer weight of this black wool coat. It is really heavy, in part due to the thick, lush fur blend wool that was produced in post war France for Lilli Ann. The shiny fur guard hairs produce a glimmer that is unmistakable. The silhouette for this coat is a wide 'swing' or 'A Line' cut. Its wide hem is very full, enhanced by pleats in front that fall from the neckline.

Appliqued on the wool are black velvet stripes that widen towards the hem. These chevron down the center back seam line, creating a pointed optical illusion at the hem. The stripes are wound around the coat, starting in the upper front and ending in a chevron point at back.
To compliment this 'A line' shape, the sleeves have width at the elbow and gather into narrow wrists. These are accented by deep turned back cuffs. An equally wide pilgrim collar can button to the chest.
When looking to date this coat, I found several Lilli Ann coats of the same textile. Often these have a 'fit and flare' princess seamed silhouette. These two types of coats seem to form the main silhouette selection at Lilli Ann during the early 1950's. Wide collars were popular, and are almost always part of the look. This picture group shows a Lilli Ann coat and others typical of the era.
The drafts of this coat are drawn to scale and show the coat in detail with its very wide skirt. The front pleats are also apparent in the draft, along with the placement of the velvet appliques.

I hope this great coat can be an inspiration to you. Many elements are very easily reproduced. Especially trying the chevron applique could make a 'ho hum' coat simply fabulous!
And if you collect vintage, keep your eye out. You never know where a Lilli Ann coat will be hiding!

More articles on Lilli Ann:

1940's suits

1950's and 60's suits

1950's Jackets

1980's Jacket


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