1950s

I just got what was described by an auction house as a '50s Pierre Balmain dress. The design seems to be congruent but it's a little concerning that the label says "Pierre Balmain of Paris" instead of just "Pierre Balmain, Paris. I can't seem to find any other example where Balmain used the...

I am getting ready to list this thinking it was 1950s at the latest and since looking up the adverts and the label resource I'm beginning to wonder if it's not earlier. Certainly a lot of the ads around 1950 have the frilled hem and sweetheart neckline but I haven't been able to find any with...

Hello! Could use some help dating this swimsuit. Has no tags. Also am curious as to what fabric it could be made from. It has stretch to it. It has what appears to be nylon lined and lightly boned (in white) cups; metal zipper; removable halter strap; crotch lined in front. From research so far...

I'm looking for a bit of help valuing this "exclusive Robert Piguet" reproduction rain coat for Lawrence of London's Designer Collection. It's a gorgeous, black snakeskin-textured silk swing coat with incredible crossover shawl collar and plaid lining. What a drape on this beauty! I do...

Hi Team, I'm from Australia and was shopping at my local OP shop and found this amazing coat. It's a cream Alpaca (Lama) wool coat knee length. I've attached some photos the tags have that 1950s /1960s look and are hand sewn in. The garment was handmade in London. I'm terrible with the shape...

Hi friends. I found this dress at an estate sale for a few dollars last weekend, and i am hoping for any tips on cleaning and care. I am not sure of the fiber content, as there aren't any labels. It feels like taffeta, very crispy and kind of shiny. I think it is synthetic, i have not done a...

Picked this up on Ebay for my new riding jacket. Love the fit and feel but don't know who or when it was made. Would anyone be able to help identify a possible date or manufacture on this jacket? Very thick leather maybe horsehide? Seller dated 50's or 60's? No tags only one inside jacket about...

I just acquired a '50s Dior and the zipper in it was super long--just sort of hung loose past the hip area. I was at first mortified by this but then I am seeing other high end dresses of the era with the same thing. Why did they do that?

I bought this lovely dress from the original owner this weekend. After bringing it home and discovering tags in the side as I unzipped it to put it on my mannequin, I went back to the sale to find out how she came to have it. She bought it new at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. Her aunt worked there...

Hi! I'm having a hard time figuring out the designer of this piece, found in a vintage shop in Brooklyn, the shop's cashier said she thought it was vintage Emilio Pucci...but I've been doing some searching and I'm not so sure! Any help would be appreciated! Thank you! Details - Cut tag, no...

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season so far. I found 2 interesting pieces recently with which I need your gracious assistance. Is this 1940s or 1950s? The belt is missing, do you think it would have been grey satin to match the collar or black? What would you call that...

Hi all, I'm a freelance journalist writing about the incredible knitwear on show in Call the Midwife for the January issue of Let's Knit magazine. I'd love to speak to anyone with specialist knowledge of the hand knits featured in the show, or more broadly of the yarns of the late 1950s and...

Hello! I am currently having a lot of trouble dating a dress I found at a thrift store. Everything about it is pointing to perhaps the late 40s - the 50s; the seams are saw-edged, it has a center back metal zipper (YKK), the sihlouette corresponds, ect. Based off of the inside, it looks home...

I have two dresses that are just stunning in my opinion and I think they are from the same collection. One is a pink Claire McCardell and the other is Lucie Ann. I am thinking both are 50s but could they be from the 40s? The Lucie Ann one in particular has stumped me because I have not seen this...

This Claire McCardell jacket was featured on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in May of 1954. I just listed it for sale on my website and thought you might like to see it in detail. It's actually on the model backwards in the cover shot, probably a brainstorm of Diana Vreeland. Here's the listing...