Tom Brigance Convertible Sportswear, 1958

Noted sportswear designer Tom Brigance had some fun playing with drawstrings and hemlines in 1958.  Watch how these fashions, modeled by Suzy Parker, change from one look to another for vacation and resort versatility.

This cotton playsuit and matching skirt look like a pretty daytime dress when worn together.

Pull on the drawstring in the skirt's hem and tie it at the waist.  The result is a balloon of a short skirt that poufs over the playsuit rompers.  Cute, no?  The set sold for $30 in 1958 (about $238 in today's dollar.)

This red plaid cotton beach coat buttons down the front and can double as a daytime shirtdress.

Pull that drawstring up, pouf the fabric and you've got a cute romper style to wear on the beach.  Sold for $25 in 1958 (about $198 in today's dollar.)  Hat by William J.

Tom Brigance Playsuit - 1955

Yes, 1955.  Most of you were very close and congrats to Val and Lauriana who guessed the year correctly!

Tom Brigance was a well known designer of American sportswear. He worked in London for Jaeger before coming to New York in 1939 as the in-house designer for Lord & Taylor. He was noted for his use of soft draping, unusual fabrics, and interesting prints. He was absent from the design world from 1942-47 while he served in the war. Upon his return, he once again designed for Lord & Taylor, until he announced his resignation in March of 1949 to join Charles Nudelman. He didn't stay long, however, as by 1951, Brigance was the exclusive designer at Frank Gallant.  In the 1950s, 60s and 70s Brigance designed for several manufacturers including Sportsmaker, Gabar and Sinclair as well as under his own name.  He retired in the late 1970s and died on October 14, 1990.

The cute playsuit shown above was designed under Brigance's own label in 1955.  This is actually two pieces:  a short play dress with matching bloomers made of Mooreville cotton plaid.  This would have been worn on the beach, by the pool, or perhaps for boating.  It was far too short to go into town in 1955!  Note how the bottom two buttons of the dress are left daringly unbuttoned for the photo.  The ad calls this a "Miniature dress."  Sold for $25 in 1955 (about $211 in today's dollar.)

Summer Stripes, 1956

Nothing feels more summer-y than stripes. Beachy, breezy, and nautical, stripes are always in style. These photos are all from 1956.

Above: Brigance of Sportsmaker uses blue and white striped cotton jersey for a bathing suit with matching straight beach shirt that gets belted for added shape. Set sold for $43 in 1956 (about $345 in today's dollar.)

Claire McCardell cotton sateen beach poncho to wear over a swimsuit or shorts. Red, green, and yellow. Sold for $20 in 1956 (about $160 in today's dollar.)

Tina Leser glazed cotton dress in bold yellow and white stripes. Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $401 in today's dollar.)

Sir James rayon sunsuit in navy and gold stripes with brass buckles and buttons. Sold for $13 in 1956 (about $104 in today's dollar.)

Helga silk/cotton blend dress in blue, white, and coral. The pleats in the skirt change the look of the stripes. Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $561 in today's dollar.)

Do you love to wear stripes? Which is your favorite?

7 Important American Designers, 1954

So often we read about American fashion designers from the 1950s, and we love to drool over the clothes they made, but we have no idea what the designers themselves looked like. I stumbled across this photo which was part of an ad for Chrysler cars in 1954. The ad headline states, "7 top fashion designers find Chrysler Corporation's 1955 cars a stimulating new concept of good design."

Click on the picture to enlarge and you'll see the faces behind the clothes.

From left to right: Tim Brigance, Anne Fogarty, Clare Potter, Lily Daché, Nettie Rosenstein, Pauline Trigere, and Claire McCardell.