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Description
An exquisite 1940's-1950's evening gown from designer Mollie Parnis. Made in the USA from black silk organza. The sleeves are not lined and close with snaps. The yoke is lined in a sheer beige fabric. Below the yoke it is lined in two layers. Nude beige and black silk. There are two back zippers, one for the lining and another for the outer layer. The lining stops at the first set of ruffles which consist of three layers of silk organza. The bottom ruffle has four.
The dress measures out to be a current us size small. the fabric does have some give.
garment measurements taken from the inside:
shoulders 15"
underarm to underarm 18", 36" bust
waist 30"
hips 37"
sleeves 24"
length 57"
In near mint, clean condition.
Silk Organza Fabric. Characteristically sheer, lightweight and crisp, Organza works well in puffy sleeves, tiered ball gowns and tutus. Woven from lustrous silk yarns, this material has an incredible sheen in addition to its particular volume that allows the fabric to stand apart from the body.
" Mollie Parnis (1902 or 1905-1992) began as a designer for David Westheim in the late 1920s. In 1933 she and her husband, Leon Livingston, formed Parnis-Livingston, for which she was designer. By the 1940s she was designing under her own name.
Her most prevalent designs during the 1950s were extremely full-skirted shirtwaist dresses and straight-skirted suits with short boxy jackets. Parnis’ most famous customer in the 1950s was Mamie Eisenhower. In April, 1955, Mrs. Eisenhower and Mollie Parnis were the subject of an article in Time magazine when the First Lady and another woman wore the same Mollie Parnis print dress to a reception that was being held in Mamie’s honor. The guest was horrified, but Mrs. Eisenhower took it all in good humor, saying, “I think it’s pretty!” Parnis commented later, “I’m ready to crawl under a rock, or leave the country or something.”
In the 1960s she continued to dress First Ladies, including Lady Bird Johnson and Pat Nixon. She was fond of patterned fabrics, which became more geometric and bolder. In the 1970s she continued her association with the White House, dressing Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter. Her Parnis Boutique label was launched in 1970, designed by Morty Sussman. Hubert Latimer, who had designed for Irene, Charles Cooper, and Christian Dior NY, headed her couture or high-end division."
The dress measures out to be a current us size small. the fabric does have some give.
garment measurements taken from the inside:
shoulders 15"
underarm to underarm 18", 36" bust
waist 30"
hips 37"
sleeves 24"
length 57"
In near mint, clean condition.
Silk Organza Fabric. Characteristically sheer, lightweight and crisp, Organza works well in puffy sleeves, tiered ball gowns and tutus. Woven from lustrous silk yarns, this material has an incredible sheen in addition to its particular volume that allows the fabric to stand apart from the body.
" Mollie Parnis (1902 or 1905-1992) began as a designer for David Westheim in the late 1920s. In 1933 she and her husband, Leon Livingston, formed Parnis-Livingston, for which she was designer. By the 1940s she was designing under her own name.
Her most prevalent designs during the 1950s were extremely full-skirted shirtwaist dresses and straight-skirted suits with short boxy jackets. Parnis’ most famous customer in the 1950s was Mamie Eisenhower. In April, 1955, Mrs. Eisenhower and Mollie Parnis were the subject of an article in Time magazine when the First Lady and another woman wore the same Mollie Parnis print dress to a reception that was being held in Mamie’s honor. The guest was horrified, but Mrs. Eisenhower took it all in good humor, saying, “I think it’s pretty!” Parnis commented later, “I’m ready to crawl under a rock, or leave the country or something.”
In the 1960s she continued to dress First Ladies, including Lady Bird Johnson and Pat Nixon. She was fond of patterned fabrics, which became more geometric and bolder. In the 1970s she continued her association with the White House, dressing Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter. Her Parnis Boutique label was launched in 1970, designed by Morty Sussman. Hubert Latimer, who had designed for Irene, Charles Cooper, and Christian Dior NY, headed her couture or high-end division."
Written by catbrooks1940s
