Princess Coat Press Photograph

I thought I might share with you today a press photograph for a princess coat.  I'm not sure the purpose of this photograph as there really isn't any information on the back.  Just an interesting look back at an early 1950s princess coat.  What I also like about this photograph is that the model is very natural looking in appearance not really a "super model" type.  It's like you could picture her walking down a busy street in everyday vintage life. 

Jacques Fath 1947, Here's Your Invitation To The Event.

Yes, it is that time again, to revel in the mastery of Jacques Fath.   Here's a link to Jacques Fath in some past posts.   I also have a Pinterest board devoted to Jacques Fath, please check it out.  I admire his style and he was (is and will be) spot on with artistic merit.  I'm so mesmerized by his work and I hope one day to view a couture dress by him in person.  Oh to just be a fly on the wall as he played out his ideas to his seamstresses.   I won this photograph in an auction and thought it captured such a moment in time.  To have been at the Jacques Fath couture house and witness first hand his creations walk the isle.  If placed back in time, I'm all the way in the corner mid-right, won't you join me?    Amazing fashion times!

This photograph was taken in 1947.  Yes, the same year that Christian Dior was also taking the fashion world by storm.  

Another funny note, I actually did double check the picture to see if the mole on the models  face was a blemish on my scanner. lol.  It's actually quite meant to be.  An ode, to Marie Antoinette I'm thinking.  It is interesting how the model is not wearing earrings but is draped in a wonderful sparkling necklace.  Wouldn't this have been quite interesting if he would have had the model wear a powdered wig too?  But really think about the style and cut of this dress…this is 1947.   This could easily have been made 10 years later and been quite in style.  

Details to the photograph...

Another image of this dress via this link.

There are also two celebrities in the audience Nita Raya and Maurice Chevalier.  They met when he was 46 and she was 19.  They were married until 1946 per Wikipedia.  Nita Raya may very well still be alive today.  I've looked up a little about her.  What is also interesting is that she was jewish so this must have been difficult for her to be in Europe during the wartime.  It is interesting they chose to stay and not come to the USA.   If you'd like to hear more about their war years here is a link.  I wish there were more resource material about her.

Image of Nita Raya source

Nita Raya

Link to her history.

YouTube Clip:

More details of the photograph:

Love those shoes!

A fur on the ground, interesting.

Jacques Fath Gown labeled as 1948 via MET    From what I can see a gift in 1951 to the MET.  Quite interesting to receive this only a few years after it appeared on the runway.  

A similar Jacques Fath gown 1954 via Decades

In researching this period about Jacques Fath, I came upon the V&A's exhibit about the golden age of couture and came upon a lovely segment about Jacques Fath and Lady Alexandrea.

Here she is in a Jacques Fath gown from the V&A website.  I invite you all to read about how she acquired the gown.  1948 Jacques Fath Gown.  I also love that she documented the event of wearing this gown and people's reactions.  

Here also is a podcast on the event.  Just lovely.  A must listen.

Images via V&A.

A rare look at  other Jacques Fath gowns in color via Pinterest.

I know this is also unrelated but for you vintage seamstresses, I also came across this wonderful link to make a 50s dress from the exhibition that was at V&A.  So interesting!

Anonymous Lady In Full Glamour 1940s

Anybody have any clues who this young starlet might be?   I have no date on the photograph but it is from MGM.  The photograph is actually quite large in nature so I'm able to zoom into a lot of details. I am thinking this is an early 40s look, what do you think?

It's so wonderfully put together.   The tilt hat with the pin curls formed to complement the hat.   I also love the angular nature of the gloves.   Notice the backdrop, and the diagonal pleating effect.   A  very masterfully placed composition.  Below are more detailed shots and if you are new to my blog, click over on the link to the side "vintage fashion photography" to see others in this series.

There was a small chip to the photograph right near her eye.

Yes, I'd like a pair of these shoes hot off the presses.

Check out the details in her lovely pin curls.  I'll have to see if I might be able to do this one day.

So there you have it, a detailed look at this smashing young lady and please let me know if you figure out who she is.

Carole Lombard

I thought I'd share an image today of the spectacular Carole Lombard.   If anyone knows which promotional movie this is for, please let me know.  She really knew how to wear a hat.  She is one of my favorite "old time" movie stars.

This image is from an 8 x 10 that I acquired (I do believe it is a reprint image.) so this gives us a rare opportunity to really take in all the details of the photograph.   I also have a few more detailed looks at fashion here with other period photographs.  


I also have some scans to share in a future post of her life story.


Check out how fabulous this hat is!  Carole Lombard is one of those rare timeless beauties.

The print on the dress she is wearing!  Just lovely!  I do believe it may be a Paris novelty print dress.

1947 California Dreamin' Miss Hollywood Jr Style

I realize it has been awhile since I've had my last fashion photography flashback.  How better to bring back this ongoing series with this wonderful image below.  

This is a press photograph taken from 1947.  How lovely are these ladies dressed?   I can just imagine what they must have looked like in full color.  It would be lovely to see the colors of red and blue in this mix.   I also find the backdrop fascinating with the palm tree and Arrowhead Hotel cabana area just behind these lovely ladies.  You can almost feel the rays of vintage sunshine!   California couture during the late 40s was so very enchanting and I've discussed it briefly in other posts how some amazing American designers were starting to make their mark and there were even a couple of great magazines "California Stylist" and "The Californian" that were directly marketed  at California style.   

I think I'm also very much drawn to this image because they are all dressed so charmingly in different styles of suits.

Here is the caption from the reverse of the photograph:

 

The Newest In Spring Suits –were shown at the Miss Hollywood Junior “Toast to Mexico” fashion display recently held at the popular Arrowhead Springs Hotel in Southern California, Left to right “La leina” is the the name given this suit, fashioned of Quartz blue and Matador black Botany flannel.  The matching blue Milan hat is by 11 Strann.  The model is Helene Willys.   “Estrelita” is the “little star” in any woman’s wardrobe, the second in this group of new styles.  Cortez gold gabardine is the material used and the on-button closing is featured on the coat.  The model is Carolyn Collins.  Third in the line is a suit of Adobe beige gabardine with skirt of Pottern brown gabardine, featuring the longer line jacket with back flare.  Model is Jean Chequette.  Grey Botany flannel was used for this bolero suit, with interesting trim of Toreador red silk cord and tassels.   A straw hat of red, featuring a high-ribboned trim of matching red was worn by model Dorothea Conner (Connor?).   “Senorita” is the name of the Pottery brown Botany gabardine suit, trimmed with Adobe beige, featuring the longer jacket with buttons up the front.  Worn with the suit by Model Peggy Loya is Phil Strann’s Pottery brown baku hat.

I googled each of the young ladies in the photograph hoping to find something on them but didn't have any luck.

I did also find that the lovely Janie of AtomicRedHead has a "Miss Hollywood Jr" dress!  At first I thought this was some kind of pageant due to the name "Miss Hollywood", but it's actually a fashion label.  Very interesting, indeed.  I'd love to learn more about this label.

I also wanted to zoom in on some of the details so you all could get a better look.

How cute is that tassel brooch?

I just love 40's shoe wear!

I was able to find some vintage images of the location shoot of this image.  Wouldn't this have been a grand place to stay?  I was actually surprised at how "modern" this hotel looked.   These images below are mainly from 1940 (with the exception of the third photograph of the swimming pool).

Source