1940s : Fashions of a Resourceful Decade

[gius]

gorgeous purse.. ^
so well-crafted..
peacock handle and the crochet texture..!

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Novelty "Love Birds" Print Silk Cocktail Dress with Side Swag
No labels found. Late 40's to early 50's. Silk crepe dress has novelty print of doves (looks like "love-y doves") surrounded by lots and lots of pretty flowers, water, and foliage in bright colors. This larger sized dress is styled with slightly fitted waist, bracelet length sleeves with pin-tucked seams at ends, and gorgeous side pleating and swag. The fabric falls straight and smooth, except for the side swag which gives the dress it's glamour. There is a decorative seam at back waist, and the seam has a little shirring. The dress fastens with back metal zipper and is in excellent to mint condition, no flaws found and very little wear. Silk is soft and supple, colors are bright and vivid, seams are tight.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

Late 40's- 1950's New Look Traina-Norell Matte Satin Evening Dress
"Traina-Norell" label and "Nan Duskin Philadelphia" label. Rare late 40's to 1950 Traina Norell label, more elusive than Dior, for this era. Superb heavy black matte silk satin fabric, the finest quality you will ever touch- and that is not an overstatement. Dress is styled with V neckline with wide sculpted collar, fitted bodice and waist, short fitted sleeves. Bodice has decorative, working double-breasted look with beautiful rhinestone buttons, 3 buttons each sleeve to match. Skirt is gored and very very full, lots of fabric. Dress is beautifully lined, fastens with side metal zipper.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Elizabeth Arden Silk Crepe Gown with Appliqués' and Floating Panels
"Elizabeth Arden Elegance' New York" and "Frederick Nielson" labels. Both Antonio del Castillo and Charles James designed for Elizabeth Arden Salon during the 1940's. This dress is from the mid to late 40's. This incredible, rare late 40's gown is made of ink black silk crepe made extraordinary by use of bias cut, off-center placed floating panels with weights. The left panel starts at side seam and attaches at center back at waist with snap, the right panel starts at center front waist and attaches just over the side seam, with a snap. The dress is superbly constructed and has a whimsical dragonfly print in pink, with neckline finished in lots of dragonfly appliqués'. The dress has a faux shirt waist front, with dragonfly appliqués' where the buttons would be, elbow length sleeves and side metal zipper. The bodice is lined in silk, the skirt is not lined. I am sure the dress was designed with the express purpose for dancing, to show off the floating panels.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Plume Print Rayon Crepe Dress with Double-Peplum
Professionally made. This is an exceptionally nice 40's rayon dress, the fabric is a nice medium weight rayon silk crepe, the print is gorgeous - large plumes. The dress has some very nice dressmaker details, too. The color is black and the plumes are done in apricot gold, white, dark green and black. The dress is fitted, and has a decoratively pleated cowl style draped collar. The sleeves are slit up the top, overlap, and are pleated at the top. The sleeves are also open at the underarm. This detail may sound funny, but the sleeve tailoring gives the dress a luxurious and expensive look. There is a long asymmetrical two-layer peplum that goes front to back. The dress fastens in back with a hook at neck where there is a small slit opening, and a side metal zipper. The peplum fastens over the zipper placket with snaps.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Lace Over Taffeta Evening Dress
No labels found, professionally made. Bronze silk faille dress with bark brown lace overlay. The dress is ballerina style. Fitted bandeau bodice with sweetheart neckline. Decorative pleated lace across the bust, the center is gathered and "tied" with a taffeta tie. The bodice is boned front and back. The waist of the skirt is shirred all around, the skirt very full and evening length. The taffeta of the skirt has an inset Chevron stripe style panel inset, to match the lace perfectly. The dress fastens with a side metal zipper and is in excellent condition except straps show some wear. The straps were sewn down, but the dress was meant to be a halter, it hangs much nicer as a halter.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1949 New Look Silk Taffeta Evening Dress with Peplum
No labels, professionally made. Ink black silk taffeta ballerina style dress. Styled with princess seamed curvy fitted bodice with cap sleeves and plunging neckline. Graceful peplum is weighted in front, and curves up in back at waist where it is gathered, pleated, and finished with a self bow. The back of the bodice fastens up with a long row of self covered buttons into frog loops. The bodice is lined in black silk organza.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Tambour Embroidered Blouse
No labels. The art of tambour embroidery dates back to the 1800's or earlier. Tambour embroidery has been used to embellish designs by some of the greats such as Givenchy, Chanel and Dior. This is definitely an inspiration piece for designers, or a great "wearable art" item for vintage enthusiasts. A black net fabric with glorious bright tambour embroidered flowers. The style is fitted, with mandarin style neckline. The blouse buttons front with ball shaped buttons which are covered in embroidered net fabric. Great to show off a silk camisole underneath.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's-1950's Miss Hawaii Pineapple Print Swimsuit
"Miss Hawaii, made and styled in Hawaii" label. Adorable, excellent condition and medium size! Cotton swimsuit has halter strap that fastens with a button. Suit has gorgeous screen print of pineapples and leaves against an abstract background, colors are white, black, gray, berry pink, grass green, and chartreuse. Has pockets at hips. Suit is lined in beige cotton, and bodice is boned at sided. Suit has elastic smocking around the sides and back. Fastens with back metal zipper.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Wool Tweed Suit Jacket
Missing it's labels. Nicely tailored black and white subtle tweed weave. Jacket is fitted, with lovely hand bound matching self buttons and French bound button holes. At waist, there are two "belts" with a single matching button each, for decoration. The jacket is lined in crepe.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Chandler's French Room leather platforms with open toes, and ankle straps
Made of navy blue leather, with pleated, cross-over toes straps with side cut-outs.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's WWII Celluloid "Sweetheart" Pin
Guys and gals would buy these if going off to war to give to their sweethearts to remember them by, sweet! This is a small celluloid pin with embedded metal c clasp back. It is a blue life preserver with a red anchor on it, with a sailor putting his head and arms through it. The sailor's uniform top is up and over the life preserver with two blue stars. The sailor is wearing his little sailor hat, and is smiling but has a tear coming from one eye... oh!

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Floral celluloid "Luau" necklace in golden yellow with paste on wire centers. The flowers are fastened to a gold celluloid chain with a plastic clasp. The leaves of the flowers are shaped by thin wires on the backs. The flowers also have paste coated wire centers for a realistic look. It's really pretty!

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Rayon Novelty Print Dress
No labels. Dark terra cotta brown color rayon with the cutest novelty print of hats, bracelets, accessories in pretty colors. This is a shirtwaist style dress with self covered buttons with yellow piping. Sleeves are cuffed and also have yellow piping and matching button each sleeve. Piping on shoulders, and shirring at shoulder seams. Fitted waist, skirt with slit pockets outlined in piping. Rayon covered small shoulder pads, side metal zipper with matching fabric.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Rayon Novelty Print Day Dress
No labels, probably home made. Could be late 1930's. Off white background with scenic print of hills, trees, houses and flowers. Sleeves and neckline are finished with blue rayon piping. Dress bodice fastens with hidden snaps up the front, the opening is decorated with non-functioning buttons.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Rayon Crepe Day Dress with Details
Label is missing. Professionally made rayon silk crepe dress in navy with rose pink abstract squiggle marks print. The dress has a high V neckline with collar, and glove length sleeves. Fitted waist and semi-full skirt with pin tucked pleats at side to create illusion of side swag. Bodice down to below waist is decorated with pink faille ribbons that look like they are piped through, the ribbons are decorated each with a long narrow stick pin with large clear faceted rhinestones. The dress comes with original matching slide belt and fastens with a side and back neck metal zipper.

kittygirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Suede and Gabardine Suit with Swing Jacket
Skirt has metal side zipper and suede button on waistband. Fabric is wool and suede; jacket is mostly suede with wool lapels; vest has suede buttons and skirt has suede waistband. Vest and jacket are lined in rayon crepe; skirt is unlined Label reads ”Sport and Travel—ladies sportswear- New York — Palm Beach ”. Good condition with a few small flaws: one button is missing from vest; you can take the one off the belt in back as it matches and use something different in the back. They shouldn’t be hard to match up. Jacket is missing a belt; has slits that it fed through so you might want to sew those up. Has a bit of surface soil on vest from age; nothing serious there. True colors are warm tobacco brown suede with cream and brown gabardine in a very fine diagonal stripe. Skirt and vest has diagonal besom pockets and jacket has vertical ones.

rrnspace.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940’s Green Jodhpurs
Fabric is wool with suede reinforcements on inner legs. No label. Has metal side zipper, two button on waistband and two front pockets. Very good condition with no holes or stains, some slight fading but nothing serious at all. True color is dark bottle green. They have foot straps on bottoms of legs which button off.

rrnspace.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Moiré Taffeta and Satin Robe Hollywood Glamour
Fabric is moiré rayon taffeta, fairly heavy weight. Label reads ”styled by Kamore”. Very good condition with two small flaws: has the repaired spots low on the skirt in front—see close-up, they are very hard to spot and back bodice seams are a little stressed. Nothing serious. Each little repair is about ¼”; there are 3 of them. True color is bright yellow. Has hidden metal zipper all the way down the front; rhinestone buttons are purely ornamental. Has wide satin lapels and loose cut with two pockets low on front. Has very full flaring skirt.

rrnspace.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Sequined Velvet Cape
Fabric is rayon. No label. Exterior is in excellent condition with no holes or stains; lining has a couple of rust spots but they don’t show through to the outside. True colors are black with cream lining and multi-colored sequins. Has one hook at throat and two straps inside to put your arms through.

rrnspace.com