The Aristocrat of Knitted Wear

I found this amazing late 30s - 40s sweater dress and was charmed by

its tag: Marinette . . .  The Aristocrat of Knitted Wear:

It's stunning! Perfectly muted taupe, with intricate stitching and

a matching skinny belt.

When I looked up the maker, I found two newspapers  

featuring ads from Marinette: one from 1936 (above) 

and another from 1935 (below).

Not surprisingly, all their fashions (blouses, dresses, and skirts) 

are hand-knit. They also specialize in larger sizes. 

The first ad states Sizes: 14 to 20; and 

the following year's ad says Sizes 12 to 44.

This beauty is best suited for a modern day Medium - Large,

and the material has plenty of give to cling to your curves.

Gigliola Curiel Couture

So, what do you know about Gigliola Curiel? I knew very little until I googled this recent find:

Turns out, she was a total rockstar. Curiel designed exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman, New York from 1955 - 1969. Gigliola Curiel was the first Italian fashion designer to have an exclusive contract with Bergdorf Goodman. She was an Italian fashion designer who was promoted by the Milan-based Italian Fashion Center, which was formed in 1948 in order to market Italian couture internationally. In the early 50s, the Italian Fashion Center helped Italian designers compete with French haute couture, with labels such as Ferragamo and Gucci.

This ad is for an early 1950s Curiel dress for Bergdorf Goodman, announcing 

her label to their New York store. It sold (in 1956) for $975.

Having this amazing designer in my shop is a real treat! The dress is in 

amazing condition, circa early 1960s, with metallic gold X's covering 

the dress, and rows of modernist shapes and houses along the bottom.