Claire McCardell is perhaps one of the most important American ready-to-wear designers of the twentieth century. And she was a bit revolutionary–interpreting Parisian designs for hard-working American women in inexpensive fabrics.
Her first famous design was called the Monastic, and, like many of her clothes, there was very little hangar appeal–it was made to be worn. Valerie Steele, in her book Women of Fashion, said that upon seeing the Monastic, one dress manufacturer shouted “(it’s) a dress with no back, no front, no waistline and my God, no bust darts!” Radical? Yes. Popular? Oh, yes!
Today’s VPOD features another dress attributed to Claire McCardell–one with a bit more detail than the Monastic. Like many vintage dresses, the tags are long gone but the dress belonged to a woman who worked for Hattie Carnegie and Claire McCardell was employed by Hattie Carnegie and so…well, does it really matter? After all, this little black frock has a dramatic neckline and sexy laced bodice with a contemporary look and feel that I’d be proud to wear today.
Yes, it’s a divine dress by the divine Miss M for a vintage fashionista!
Available at Hemlock Vintage.
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Technorati Tags: Fashion, vintage, vintage clothing, 1940s, Claire McCardell
