A Touch of Spring

I love pretty floral prints.  The dress and jacket ensemble shown here is by Harvey Berin and dates to 1961.  "Verdant leaf-green on white" is how the print is described.  Under the jacket, the sleeveless sheath can stand on it's own.  And if you're bold enough, top it off with a pouf of white blossoms and green leaves via the Sally Victor hat.  Nothing says Spring like a showy floral hat!

Harvey Berin Dress - 1955

Delicious, no?  This incredible dress was designed by Karen Stark for Harvey Berin.  The dress is pieced together from black lace and pin-tucked black silk chiffon.  It is lined in a light colored silk, probably pink or beige.  The work that went into this beauty is simply astounding!

Dresses for the Heat of Summer - 1956

Air conditioning was not mainstream in 1956.  Some public buildings offered it, but at home window units were expensive and uncommon.  Women tried to stay cool by wearing lightweight fabrics, although slips, bras and girdles were still de rigueur.  Today, summer dresses from 1956 that were made to beat the heat.

Pink and white checked cotton lawn is criss-crossed with insertion lace for a light airy effect.  Larry Aldrich.  Sold for $110 in 1956 (about $914 in today's dollar.)

Cotton voile in black with copper colored dots.  Oleg Cassini.  Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $582 in today's dollar.)

A sweet cotton poplin playsuit gets dressed up for town by wearing a co-ordinating floral skirt over it.  Both pieces by Pat Premo.  Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $332 in today's dollar.)

Semi-sheer cotton voile in a cool champagne color fashions a simple shirtwaist dress.  Vera Stewart.  Sold for $95 in 1956 (about $789 in today's dollar.)  Mr. John lace hat.

White pintucked cotton batiste with rows of insertion lace layered over pale yellow lining.  Harvey Berin.  Sold for $175 in 1956 (about $1454 in today's dollar.)

How do you dress to stay cool in summer?

Harvey Berin Dresses

Karen Stark and Harvey Berin, 1954

Harvey Berin dresses were prized for being extremely well made and yet only moderately expensive. The company was best known for it's evening gowns and cocktail dresses, although they produced daytime dresses and suits, as well. Mr. Berin began his career in fashion in 1921 when he was only 15 years old. He hired his sister-in-law, Karen Stark, to design the line in 1942. The pair won a Coty award in 1952. Harvey Berin's evening wear was worn by many First Ladies. Perhaps the most famous was Pat Nixon's yellow silk inaugural gown. The Harvey Berin company closed in 1970.

1954: Pale pink satin ball gown.

1956: Black silk taffeta cocktail dress with side drape.

1956: Black wool jersey bodice and satin skirt combined in a beauty of a cocktail dress.

1957: Pink satin peeks out behind black lace

1958: Silk satin bubble hem gown.

1969: Pat Nixon inaugural gown.

At Couture Allure, we just listed this stunning 1950s silk satin party dress by Harvey Berin. It's another great example of the genius of Karen Stark.

Vintage Cocktail Dress - Another Illusion

More of that sexy lace, but this time it is hidden behind sheer black silk marquisette. The lace covers the deeply cut decolletage of pink silk satin. Another enticing illusion, don't you agree? Featured in a full page ad in the December 1957 issue of Vogue magazine.

Karen Stark was the designer for Harvey Berin and her name was found on the labels, though not in the ad shown here. Even though Stark was the designer, Berin had final say on whether a design would be produced or not. The company was known for its ultra-feminine styles.

"I like dramatic clothes for evening and uncluttered clothes for daytime. I like to use beautiful fabrics and unusual trimmings. I design for everyone - short women, tall women - but always very feminine women."

Karen Stark, 1966