Yes, 1956! Are you surprised? I was! Many of you were very close in your guesses and
Casey was spot on! Harem legged jumpsuits like this one were more popular in the mid-to-late 60s as at-home hostess or loungewear, so I was taken aback to see this photograph from 1956.
The designer was Rosalie Macrini. Macrini began designing in 1930 for the Barbara Costume Company in New York. She bought the company sometime in the 1950s. Her specialty was cocktail and evening wear. Macrini was a master at hiding figure flaws. Many of her dresses featured the floating chiffon drape as featured with the harem jumpsuit above. The drape could be wrapped in many ways to hide bulges. Her clothes always featured full boning so the bodice didn't sag. Here are some more of Macrini's designs from the 1950s and early 60s.
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| 1957 |
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| 1957 |
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| Late 1950s |
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| 1959 |
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| 1963. This harem-legged jumpsuit was designed to coincide with the opening of the film Lawrence of Arabia. |
