Bernardo Moon Sandals - 1967

Bernardo Rudofsky began business in Italy in 1946.  He is credited with inventing the modern day sandal for women.  This full page ad for Bernardo's "Moon Sandal" appeared in Vogue in 1967.  Picnic at a monastary, anyone?  I love the fact there is a portable record player with several rock and roll albums on the blanket.  The monk sure is having fun!

The copy from the ad reads as follows:

"The Un-Ascetic Sandal
When you get down to the basics in sandals, you get pretty close to what a 15th century monk wore around the monastery.
Bernardo says even the sandal that's basic enough to be right with bathing suits, party pyjamas and everything in between, doesn't have to be a bore.
These bright shining discs, more at home on the moon than in a monastery, are Bernardo's "Moon Sandals" designed for 20th century people by Eva Sonnino."

 The Bernardo Footwear company is still in business today.  In Spring 2011, the company re-released two vintage styles in limited editions.  The Moon in Madras sandal was one of them.  The sandals are hand crafted in Italy and there are still limited sizes available of the Moon Sandal in red.  You can shop for them here.

Mystery Solved

 In April 2012, I shared with you a post about a dress that was worn on Mad Men during season 5.

I had the identical dress for sale at Couture Allure at the time.  I knew it was a high end dress, but it only had a label from the store that sold it, Galosy's.

This morning, the mystery is solved.  The dress was designed by Malcolm Starr in 1967.  "Dress for dreams: royal blue cuffed in a rainbow of paillettes, wooden beads, crystals. By Malcolm Starr, in William Rose fabric of Celanese rayon, worsted and silk.  $265."  That's about $1,848 in today's dollar and the dress would be worth every penny if you could find anything remotely as well made today.  Stockings by Dior, shoes by Julianelli.

Photo by Neal Barr for Harper's Bazaar, 1967.

Norman Norell - 1967

Had you asked, I never would have guessed this maxi coat, pants and top set was by Norman Norell, but some of the best designers surprise me over and over.  If you look closely, you can tell this set was made by a master.  Look how the design is matched precisely.  The white stripes match both horizontally and vertically from the coat to the pants.  Even the sleeves are perfectly matched and the opening edges of the coat split the design perfectly in half.  That is not easy to do and takes skill from the designer, the pattern maker, the fabric cutter and the seamstress.  And doesn't Benedetta Barzini do this set justice?

Photo by Richard Avedon for Vogue, 1967

Donald Brooks Coat, 1967

Navy and white wide stripes, criss-crossed in Mod perfection fashion this Donald Brooks coat from 1967.   I love, love, love this. 

Country Clothes, 1967 - Part 2

Part 2 of our romp among the moors of Ireland.  All of these American made country clothes are from 1967.  Do you like these classic styles?

Above:  Suede short jacket and midi skirt trimmed in leather and closed with snaps.  By McDouglas for Highlander.

Gray wool coat by Lassie Junior worn with ribbed sweater tights.  Leather shoulder bag by La Bagagerie.

Junior Sophisticates brown and gray wool plaid suit.  Jacket has a zip front.  Leather boots by Celine.

Anne Klein for Mallory suede maxi skirt and vest with rhinestone buttons.  Worn with a black wool sweater by Geist & Geist.  Note:  This is the first example I've ever seen of the freelance work Anne Klein did for Mallory Leathers.  The following year, 1968, Klein established her own company.  This was an expensive outfit at $200 in 1967 (about $1,380 in today's dollar.)

Green wool tweed coat by Zelinka Matlick.  Worn with a simple turtleneck shift, leather boots and ribbed sweater tights.

Country Clothes, 1967 - Part 1

There's something about the crispness in the air of fall and wearing woolens, leathers, plaids, and boots that brings to mind tramping about in the fields and woods of the great outdoors.   The photos were taken in Ireland.  The clothes are all American classics that would serve you just as well today as they did 45 years ago in 1967.

Above:  Camel wool coat by Dani Jrs., sueded calf mini skirt by Highlander, camel hair sweater by Hadley, leather boots by Celine.  Note the textured tights and chunky leather belt that complete the look.  Cow not included.

Wool monk's cloth midi coat by Daniel Hechter for Devonbrook, worn with a matching fedora hat and shiny patent boots by Desco.

Hard to tell in this black and white photo, but the coat and culottes are both of brown leather, both by Viola Sylbert for Albert Alfus.  Worn with a black wool turtleneck sweater by James Kenrob for Dalton.  Chunky leather belt by La Bagagerie.

Animal print rabbit fur overblouse and camel wool mini skirt, both by Chuck Howard for Townley.  Worn with black leather gloves that have little zippers by Sant'Angelo for Crescendoe.

Sportwhirl beige cashmere dress buttons at the shoulders.  Worn with matching tights and cardigan sweater.

More country clothes tomorrow!

Dress and Coat Sets of the 1960s

 The years 1966 and 67 were the height of popularity for these fabulous dress and matching coat sets.

Most consisted of a sleeveless shift dress worn under a coordinating coat.   If both pieces were not made entirely of the same fabric, then the dress usually had a bit of the coat fabric as part of the design.

 Mod patterns, horizontal stripes and plaids were quite popular, but tweeds and solid wools or silks were also used.

 The high neckline or collar of the dress was usually visible under the coat.

 You can even find these sets in metallic fabrics for evening wear.

Right now at Couture Allure, we have three of these 1960s sets available, all in wool and all completely wonderful.  The great thing about these sets is the versatility they offer.  Wear the coat as outerwear over jeans or anything in your closet.  Wear the dress on its own or with a coordinating sweater or jacket.  Or wear the two as a set.  Which one is your favorite?

Weekend Eye Candy - Maggy Rouff, 1967

Cotton shift dresses from the 1960s with bright floral prints are easy and fun to wear all summer long.  I would dearly love to find this one for my customers.  This Maggy Rouff Boutique dress from 1967 is made of pure linen.  I wish this photo were in color!

Hanae Mori Jumpsuit, 1967

Photo by Irving Penn for US Vogue

I usually associate designer Hanae Mori with beautiful prints, and butterflies were a favorite design element of hers, but this over-the-top jumpsuit from 1967 is quite a bit wilder than anything I've seen of hers from this era.  Made of silk crepe, I am sure the workmanship on this was simply superb.  The bracelets are by New York jeweler Charles Elkaim.

Vera Neumann Dress - 1967

I love me some Vera, and I would snatch this dress from 1967 right up if I found it.  A simple sheath in Ban-Lon nylon, it is shown bloused a bit by way of the tie sash at the waist.  Sold for $26 in 1967 (about $176 in today's dollar.)  The hair?  Not so much.  And are those necklaces posing as earrings?

Oscar de la Renta Dress - 1967

Here in Boston, we've been blessed with relatively mild temperatures for the past couple of months.  (Did I just jinx it?)  That doesn't mean I don't long for tropical temperatures and warm ocean breezes.  This 1967 dress by Oscar de la Renta is perfect for enjoying those fantasies.  And a long orange beaded necklace as an ankle bracelet?  Why not?

Glam and Glitz for evening - 1967

Let's party like it's 1967! Required - one sparkly dress, glitter stockings, metallic shoes, and big hair.

Geoffrey Beene dress with sequins and mirrors.

Malcolm Starr royal blue dress with cuffs and hem in paillettes, wooden beads and crystals. Sold for $265 in 1967 (about $1692 in today's dollar).

Saks Fifth Avenue private label burnout velvet. Sold for $145 in 1967 (about $926 in today's dollar).

Leslie Fay chiffon dress with back drape. Sold for $36 in 1967 (about $230 in today's dollar).

All from Stix Baer & Fuller, St. Louis' high end department store. Two sparkly mini dresses sold for $40 each in 1967 (about $255 in today's dollar) and the metallic stripe dress with matching coat sold for $225 in 1967 (about $1436 in today's dollar).

It's not too late to get your own 1960's party dress for this holiday season! We've got loads of them at Couture Allure! Go take a look! Big hair not included.

Weekend Eye Candy - Paco Rabanne, 1967

Here's how to shake up the "old guard".  Paco Rabanne mini length chain mail tunic dress with side slits worn over silver tights, 1967.  Did we really wear our dresses this short?  Oh yes, yes we did!

Mod Vintage Coats - 1967

 You will be seeing a lot of Mod inspired coats in the stores this fall.  I can promise you the quality of today's coats will not hold a candle to those from the 1960s.  Do yourself a favor.  Buy an original vintage 60s coat instead of a poorly made "fast fashion" modern version.  You'll be glad you did.  Here are some fabulous examples from 1967.

Above:  Chester Weinberg color block wool coat.

 David Crystal emerald green wool coat with sharp buttons and lots of pocket flaps.

 Abe Schrader wool coat in black and white checks, belted at the high hip.

Laird-Knox red wool coat with a slightly flared shape and crisp lines accented with top-stitching.

Gino Paoli wool knit coat with big gold buttons.

Pierre Cardin Plays with Purple - 1967

Pierre Cardin used lots of bright colors in his collections for 1967. Since purple is my favorite color, these stood out for me. What do you think? Above, a pleated tent dress in an oversize floral print.

Linen mini dress with clever cut-outs.

Evening gown completely covered in sequins worn with purple suede boots.

And my all-time favorite coat EVER! Giant purple polka dots on white wool with purple-dyed fox fur hem. I want this coat. I want this coat. I want this coat.