Glamorous Loungewear from 1949

It's been a long day at the office. Due to cut backs and layoffs, you're doing the work of 2 1/2 people, putting in endless hours as just another cog in the wheel of commerce. You trudge home, put on the same oversize t-shirt and sweatpants you've been wearing in the evening for the last three years. And in the back of your mind, you hear Peggy Lee singing, "Is That All There Is?".

When is the last time you felt like a woman? When is the last time you pampered yourself? When is the last time you indulged your glamorous side?

In the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, at the end of the day, a woman would don luxurious loungewear, and spend the evening feeling feminine and beautiful. She didn't wear it for her man (although it didn't hurt), but for herself. Why not give it a try, and see if it boosts your mood? And if you've never had the pleasure of feeling vintage rayon satin against your skin, you're in for a treat. There's nothing today that feels quite so sultry and delicious.

Above, a Dorian lounge robe in wool jersey with rayon slipper satin skirt, collar, and cuffs. Sold at Neiman Marcus and Best and Co. for $35 in 1949 ($317 today).

A champagne rayon slipper satin lounge robe styled like a trench coat by Raymodes. Sold at Saks Fifth Avenue for $20 in 1949 ($182 today).

Left - Textron hostess gown in red, blue, or green taffeta with black plaid, adorned with black buttons and a black leather belt. Sold for $25 in 1949 ($227 today).

Right - Robert Rosenfeld black rayon pajama jumpsuit with a rayon taffeta overblouse in copper with black stripes. Sold for $35 in 1949 ($317 today).

Lounge robes and pajamas from the 40's are becoming harder to find, but here's a great set from Robin Clayton Vintage that has a short robe with matching wide leg pajama pants. When searching online, you can also search the term hostess robe to bring more results.

For fun, here's the captivating Jean Harlow in some over-the-top lingerie from 1933's "Dinner at Eight".

Party Fashion à la 1959

Reader Monique wrote with this question:

"In April of next year I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. I am
planning to do a fabulous 50's theme...I do NOT want it to turn into a
costume party. I really want to inspire my guests (as well as myself) to
dress in the most stylish 50's fashion. Can you please share with me me any suggestions for styles in the late 50's??"

I sure can, Monique! First of all, Happy Birthday! I pulled out a few issues of Glamour magazine from 1959 and found some great party styles for you. But first, lets talk about what NOT to wear. No poodle skirts or saddle shoes! That style, which has become a costume cliche, would have been worn earlier in the 50's and by teenagers to the high school sock hop.

What TO wear? A glamourous full skirted dress in an evening fabric will do. Here are pictures of several styles in brocade, chiffon, satin, and taffeta. Colors are clear and bright, black, white, or metallic brocades.

A skirt with a bit less flair, or a fitted sheath also works. A fitted dress should be jazzed up with lots of jewelry.

Beaded sweaters or cropped jackets, sometimes with fur trim, can be worn over the dress if it is a cool evening. Swing coats and fur stoles are also appropriate.

Lots of sparkly rhinestone jewelry shows up, in necklaces, brooches, and earrings.

Shoes should be spike heels with pointed toes.

Gloves can be worn, if desired. They can be short or long, but are usually white.

In makeup, you'll find a strong defined brow line, black eyeliner and heavy mascara, and a strong lip color. Hair is either pulled back tight to the head with a chignon, or teased high with a flip at the ends.

I hope that helps, Monique, and have a fun party!

Vintage 1959 Schreiner Necklace

Take away the blue eyeshadow, and this look could have come out of a current fashion magazine. A sparkling statement necklace is one way to dress up a basic sheath dress for evening. Add a simple up-do and matching earrings and you're all set to dazzle for the holidays. This image was featured in Glamour magazine, December 1959. The necklace is by Schreiner, now a highly collectible name in vintage jewelry.

Want to see more vintage sparklers from Schreiner? Go visit Jane Haley Clarke at Morning Glory Antiques & Jewelry. Her reference page is loaded with images of enough vintage Schreiner jewelry to make a gal swoon.

12 Looks from One Evening Gown

Take one strapless evening gown in white (or black) peau de soie, pair it with matching white (or black) satin shoes, and dress it up 12 different ways. Now that's accessorizing! Dress shown is by Mr. David from December, 1959.

1. Add a long velvet ribbon sash over the bust with a corsage of green velvet leaves and tiny Christmas balls at the back.
2. Add a jacket or sweater with fur trim at collar and cuffs. Match your clutch and shoes to the fur.
3. Add a wide striped and fringed silk sash at the waist.




4. Wear the gown with a gold tweed evening coat, gold evening slippers, and sparkling rhinestone jewelry.



















5. Add a sash in a colorful silk sari print, worn over one shoulder and tied at the waist.

6. Wear a statement sparkly necklace and long formal gloves.

7. Add a cropped jacket in a bright pop of color, suggested here - bright yellow velveteen.















8. Belt the waist with a bright pop of color and add matching shoes.


9. Wear a long chiffon stole over one shoulder and clasped at the waist with a large sparkling brooch.






10. Add a dramatic stole in white silk backed with emerald velvet and wear it wrapped or draped to the back.

11. Make a collar from holly leaves and berries woven with velvet ribbon.

12. Wear the dress solo with a dramatic hairdo, or pop on a wig in a different color from your own hair.

Henry Rosenfeld - Designer for the Budget Minded

1949

Henry Rosenfeld started his career as a shipping clerk in Manhattan's garment district. He worked his way up the ladder at Bedford Dress, Inc. before striking out on his own in 1942.

The war years were a difficult time for the garment industry due to government restrictions on fabrics and designs. Rosenfeld had contracted to buy fabrics for his line just before the OPA (Office of Price Administration) was preparing to set ceiling prices on fabrics to control inflation and help the war effort. Many garment manufacturers cancelled contracts to purchase fabrics in order to take advantage of the new, lower prices. But Rosenfeld was smart. He honored all of his contracts at the agreed-upon prices that were set before the ceilings went into effect. In later years, when fabric shortages affected the industry, grateful fabric manufacturers gave Rosenfeld first choice.

1955

Elizabeth Hilt was the designer for Henry Rosenfeld, which was a budget label, with dresses ranging from $10.95 - $19.95 in 1946 ($121 - $221 today). Yet the dresses were well cut and simply tailored, which gave them an expensive look. In 1945, Rosenfeld grossed $8,000,000 on sales of 2,000,000 dresses to 12,000 stores.

One of those stores was Lord & Taylor, which featured a Henry Rosenfeld dress in this ad for Glamour magazine in November 1949. This dress was sold in Lord & Taylor's Budget Shops for $17.95 ($163 today). Fashioned of rayon lamé in silver, gold, or gun-metal grey, it has a velvet sash at the waist.

Thank you to Rosenfeld's nephew for pointing out these photos that were featured in a Life magazine article about the designer and his company in 1951.

Vintage Cocktail Dress - One Last Illusion

We just have a peek of a dress in this 1949 ad for Coro Pearls, but what a peek it is! The dress, by Martini, has an off-the-shoulder neckline that reveals a glimpse of an attached red bustier that accents the decolletage. This gives the illusion that madame's racy red undergarments are showing, but it is part of the dress. I love the addition of the red hat. Just another way to entice without revealing too much.

Vintage Cocktail Dress with a Jacket

Here's another way to make an impression. This dress looks rather covered up for evening. But presto, chango:

Take off the jacket and you've got a strapless bombshell of a dress. Interesting how the buttons on the jacket match the buttons on the dress, so you have the illusion (there's that word again!) of one piece, when it is actually two.

This dress by Saks Fifth Avenue is from 1949. The ad states:

"Sheila Lynn's beautiful change-of-costume. Jacket on at the restaurant table, nude shoulders when the music begins."

Now if we only had a fancy restaurant around here that had dancing after dinner, I'd be all set. Love those strappy shoes!