Impeccable spring weight suit circa 1940s. This vintage suit is done in a soft dove gray, very fine wool. It has a very strong shoulder line, tidy nipped in waist and notched lapel. There is a yoke detail on the jacket, two faux breast pockets and two actual welted pockets. The buttons are fabric covered with hand stitched detail. The skirt is straight but relaxed at the hem. Very finely tailored with pick stitching on the lapels and fabric bound button holes. Crepe lining in the jacket. The skirt is unlined, usual for the era since women wore slips instead.
There are two name labels. In Boston Lamson-Hubbard and Milady New York. Also an Imported Fabric label.
A Generous Medium size with the following measurements.

Bust 42''
Waist 30''
Hips 40"
Skirt length 25"
Sleeve length 23"

Excellent Condition
 

Beautifully tailored wool tweed skirt and jacket, suit from the late 1940s - early 50s.

The fabric is to die for... black and white, pure wool tweed, done in a novel window pane type weave, The wool fibers are nubbed and it is a warm winter weight. High quality and unique woolen fabrics like this are almost non-existent on the contemporary market because they are terribly expensive to produce....just one of the many reasons I'm such a fan of vintage fashion

The cut is iconic "cusper" 40s-50s, very New Look with a nipped waist jacket and long straight skirt. The shoulders are padded and it has a black velvet collar. The dressmaking details are lovely....crescent welt pockets at the hip echoed again above the breast. The front jacket closes with a row of black buttons and cloth bound buttonholes. Jacket is fully lined with black crepe. The straight skirt is half lined in back crepe and zips on the side with a steel metal zipper. Inverted pleat at the back hem for ease of movement. It was made for Townley by Kolmer Petite. Not sure why the petite is on the Kolmer label, because this is a larger size with average proportions.

The condition is fabulous except for some wear to the velvet collar. On the inside roll of the velvet collar there are two small spots where the pile of the velvet is worn. They are close together and the larger one is about 1/4" long. They are not visible when the jacket is on the body and do not detract in any way. There is also some wear to the velvet edge of the right side of the collar. I did not even see this until after I photographed the suit. It is visible when worn but subtle and hard to notice. The suit is such a beauty I don't think the collar rub will matter to many, but if you are considering buying and this is a detractor to you , might I suggest talking to a your dressmaker or tailor about having the velvet on the collar replaced. It's not that difficult an alteration for someone qualified. If you do go that route, ask your dressmaker to please use a nice quality velvet, vintage is preferable and available online. I have priced the suit to reflect the collar flaw.

The suit is designed to show off curves and I LOVE that it is a generous size. Measurements as follow.

Jacket

Bust 41"

Waist 35"

Sleeve Length 23"

Shoulder to Shoulder 17"

Skirt

Waist 33"

Hip 43"

Length 28"

Very Good Condition - with some wear to velvet collar please read above text and see picture

Classic Scottish wool tweed suit by David Crystal.
The David Crystal company began in the 1930s and was known for their high quality sportswear. By the 1940s they were creating "Town Clothes" as well and fine tweeds were a favorite.
I believe this vintage suit is from the 1950s. The jacket has a loose cut with notched lapel, welt pockets and narrow cuffs on the sleeves. It has three hand bound buttonholes and large brown plastic buttons. The material is a brown and ivory Scottish wool tweed. The tailoring is done with a light touch so it is comfortable and practical. Interestingly the jacket is lined with a lightweight wool jersey which is brilliant because it lends body to the garment, but is not restrictive. The straight skirt is half lined with silk crepe and has a kick pleat in back.
The skirt is smallish in comparison to the jacket. This was common at the time. Jackets had a boxy look but skirts were often very fitted. If you like there is room in the skirt to let it out 1-2 sizes. The pieces have the following measurements.

Bust 39''
Waist of skirt 26''
Waist of jacket unstructured
Hips up to 38"
Skirt length 25 1/2"
Sleeve length 24"
Shoulders 15 1/2"

Excellent Condition
 

Bold plaid and smart lines .... Mod 1960s skirt suit by Hueston of Melbourne.

The fabric is rich... pure wool in an oversized yellow and gray plaid. I love the unexpected color combination! The jacket has a boxy cut with jewel neckline and 3/4 length dolman sleeves. It closes with two large gray buttons and cloth bound button holes. The skirt is straight but it has a wonderful pleat detail in the center front which is anchored with one large gray button.

Both jacket and skirt are lined with gray satin. The suit is in beautiful condition with no flaws to note.

The size is small with the following measurements.

Bust of Jacket 36"

Waist of skirt 26"

Hip of skirt 36"

Length of skirt 26"

Excellent Condition

Teen Scene circa 1960!

Saddle shoes and bobby socks! That's all this outfit needs to make it the perfect look for your next Rockabilly affair. Two piece set consisting of fitted 3/4 sleeve jacket and full circle skirt. The fabric is a quilted cotton with tyrolean inspired print in shades of olive, deep pink and blue. Jacket closes to the neck with decorative brass buttons and has a tiny stand up collar in a coordinating print. The edges of the sleeves are detailed with same contrasting fabric. I photographed it with a thin matching belt from the same era. This was not original to the outfit but I thought it looked nice and I will include it although a belt is not necessary. I also photographed with a petticoat under the skirt to show off it's fullness. This will not be included.

A well made set, both pieces are fully underlined in cherry red cotton.

Wear the pieces together as a set or seperately as you wish. I think the jacket would look cute with jeans. You can also wear a light blouse under the jacket for another look altogether

The size is smallish with junior proportions, meaning the bust size is small in proportion to the waist. It has the following measurements

Bust 34"

Waist 26"

Hips free

Skirt length 23"

Excellent Condition no flaws to note

Absolutely adorable 1960s two piece vintage Tyrolean skirt and vest set from Austria.

Created from ivory wool flannel the set consists of a tailored vest trimmed with loden green piping and embroidered acorn motif. It has a mandarin style collar.The vest is meant to be worn open and the pewter buttons are purely decorative. The skirt is cut A-line with a front V yoke. The yoke is top stitched with loden thread and sports a double row of pewter buttons. The front gores of the skirt and the yoke are defined by loden green piping. Both pieces have a hand set lining in ivory silk taffeta. The designers label inside reads Max Hurni made in Austria. Wear the set together or seperately. The size is small with the following measurements

Bust 34"-36",

 Waist 26"

length of skirt 27"

Excellent Condition
 

Fabulous men's tailored vintage trouser suit by Valentino circa 1970s. Mens tailoring was all the vogue for women in the 1970s. We most often think of Yves Saint Laurent as the designer responsible for this trend particularity his Tuxedo look. I do think though, the "mannish" look was inevitable given the social climate of the day. Womens Lib was in full bloom and many women were shunning the traditional roles AND garments of their mothers generation. It wasn't the first time women had dallied with mens fashion. Remember how Marlene Deitrich shocked and bewitched the public with her slouchy trousers and rakish fedora? and who could forget little Coco in her sailor pants and striped jersey? It was however, the first time the look was embraced en mass. For the first time women were wearing pants more than skirts. The pants suit became a wardrobe essential!
Valentino is probably the most famous designer to emerge from Italy. A country with a proud tradition in exquisite tailoring and fine textiles. The suit you see here is impeccably constructed in gray wool flannel. The jacket has a sharp profile reminiscent of the 1940's. The shoulders are well defined and there is a wide notched lapel collar, The edges of the collar, jacket and the vents on the sleeves are trimmed with brown suede. There are two slant welt pockets and a welted breast pocket. The elbows of the jacket have suede patches which matches the trim. The trousers are flat front and high waisted (to the natural waist). The legs are long, lean in the upper leg and wider towards the hem. It is small in size with the following measurements.

Bust 35"
Waist 25"
Hips 36"
Inseam 31 1/2"
sleeve length 23"

Excellent Condition

 I was head of alterations in a salon on Newbury St. in Boston during the later 1980s. The shop carried high end ready to wear and catered to society ladies (LOTS of old money) as well as successful business women. I can remember the Adele Simpson dresses and suits we carried as timeless, elegant and flattering. They were expensive (usually well over $500) but worth it because they LOOKED like couture when worn. Altering them was painstaking due to the high quality workmanship. We were required to finish our work in keeping with the same original standards. I loved working on her clothing.

Adele Simpson had a long and successful career as an American designer. After working in the industry for a number of years she started her solo label in 1949. Adele retired in the 80s at which time her daughter took over the company.

This timeless vintage dress/suit, hails from the 80s and can be worn throughout the day and with a change of shoes and accessories transitions into dinner or evening with ease. Two tone, it is cut from royal blue and black wool crepe. A boxy, open, shawl collar jacket tops a fitted short sleeved dress with jewel neckline. It has a silky black lining. The size is medium around a modern 8 with the following measurements.

Bust 38"
Waist 30"
Hips 38"

Excellent Condition
 

This is the most beautiful vintage suit I have ever had the pleasure to offer on my site. It hails from the 1940s and is done in an ultra fine navy blue wool gabardine. The jacket is cut with a nipped in waist, broad shoulder line and heavily beaded cape collar. The striking cape is the focal point with notched detail in front... embellished all around with navy blue, carnival glass bugle beads. The sleeves are long and narrow with fold up cuffs and the jacket closes in front with four navy blue buttons and cloth bound buttonholes. The skirt is semi-straight with a slight flare for ease of movement.

The tailoring is impeccable, exceeding, even, the high standards of that time, it would have been considered a "better" piece of ready to wear. The jacket is fully lined in navy crepe. The skirt is unlined, a typical feature as women always wore slips. It closes on the side with a metal zipper. The maker is Newbury and the store it came from was Gordons (Malden Ma.).

Please Note! The color in my photographs appears slightly lighter than the actual garment. This is a true, dark navy blue

This suit is a small size with the following measurements.

 Jacket

Bust 35"

Waist 27"

Sleeve Length 23"

Shoulder to Shoulder

 Skirt

Waist 25"

Hip 36"

Length 29"

Condition Very Very Good - This suit is in remarkable condition and I would have given it an Excellent rating except for two tiny holes on the waistband (see picture) and a tiny mended hole right below the waistband. When I say tiny I am talking smaller than a match head. They cannot be seen except under close inspection, you have to go looking for them to see them. The entire jacket, it's lining and the body of the skirt show no flaws