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  • Appliqued Blue Silk Organza Evening Dress, 1949

    Appliqued Blue Silk Organza Evening Dress, 1949

    Navy blue silk organza evening dress. Scooped neckline trimmed with ivory lace leaf and rose appliques repeated in falling pattern along left front side and in embroidered vine encircling lower skirt. Very full circular skirt has two layers of organza over of layer of net. Skirt seams have been let out at waist. Dress would be worn over chemise. Clothing label: Salon Moderne/SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Stamped on label: 804. Handwritten on label: Mrs. H. Firestone/June 30, 1949.

  • Strapless Silk Evening Gown with Stole, 1952

    Strapless Silk Evening Gown with Stole, 1952

    Red silk dress with stole. Corselet in bodice made of white cotton net, stiffened with boning. Dress lined with multiple layers of net. Loose, slip-like lining of white and dark red silk. Skirt has been shortened a fraction. Rectangular stole folded in half; additional fold stitched in back. Stole has self-fabric fringe and two silk fabric loops for arms. Clothing label: AUTOMNE-HIVER 1952/Christian Dior/PARIS/MADE IN FRANCE. Stamped on label: 24345. Handwritten on tag sewn on back of label: 539…

  • White Satin Ball Gown with Heavily Beaded Bodice, 1955

    White Satin Ball Gown with Heavily Beaded Bodice, 1955

    Powdery-blue or blue-grey satin evening gown. Floral embroidery of silver, pink and blue-grey colored metallic threads (some appear to be tarnished silver, others may be synthetic) decorated with iridescent rhinestones and tiny sequins. Embroidery diminishes towards bottom of dress; no embroidery at hemline. Skirt smooth and curved in front, gathered in back. At center-back waistline is a large asymmetrical vertical bow with attached sash. Corselet inside of bodice. Bodice stiffened with white c…

  • Ball Gown, 1951

    Ball Gown, 1951

    White silk satin gown with heavily beaded strapless bodice, belt, skirt, and petticoat. Scalloped neckline encrusted with pearls, blue rhinestones, silver tinsel. Bodice lined with cream silk georgette. Satin tie attached to skirt at waist. Garters attached to waist. Petticoat of white changeable taffetta with two wide bands of horse hair. Not certain if petticoat belongs with gown. Gown has been let out slightly at waist. Clothing label: BALENCIAGA/10 AVENUE GEORGE V/PARIS. Handwritten on tag s…

  • Navy Blue Synthetic Silk Faille Evening Dress, 1947

    Navy Blue Synthetic Silk Faille Evening Dress, 1947

    Floor-length, navy blue synthetic silk faille evening dress. Stand-up collar. Long raglan sleeves with gathers at inseam. Navy blue velvet insertion at decolletage with large navy blue velvet bow. Slit pockets on hips. Medium-full skirt over attached black petticoat with wide pleated flounce at hem. White crepe inner bodice and grosgrain boned corselette. Clothing label: Christian Dior/PARIS/MADE IN FRANCE. Stamped on label: 8344. This garment was owned by Elizabeth Parke Firestone, daughter of …

  • Coral Silk Evening Dress, about 1935

    Coral Silk Evening Dress, about 1935

    Sleeveless floor-length dress with matching long-sleeve jacket in coral silk crepe. V-shaped neckline in front and back; floating curved panels over bust; sewn tucks over midriff. Self-fabric button closure in back leaves small, diamond-shaped opening in middle of back. Short half-belt in back. Seams curved over hips with slight fullness below knees. Weighted bottom. China silk half-slip in matching color. Waist-length, double-breasted jacket with suplice closure and 2 self-fabric buttons. No co…

  • Black Velvet and Lace Hostess Dress, about 1930-1932

    Black Velvet and Lace Hostess Dress, about 1930-1932

    Black silk velvet hostess dress with neckline, hem and half of sleeves edged in beige machine lace. Short, semicircular demi-train. This dress is not labeled, but is believed to be a Stein & Blaine based on another black velvet hostess dress of a similar style that is owned The Henry Ford and has a Stein & Blaine label.

  • Wine Colored Velvet Evening Dress, 1940

    Wine Colored Velvet Evening Dress, 1940

    Dress of wine-colored velvet with intertwining serpentine cut-out design over wine net; gold/navy blue lame shows through cut-outs. Serpentine figuring is smaller at bustline and larger at hem. Heart-shaped bodice with spaghetti straps and raised waistline. Clothing label on dress: Jean Patou/PARIS. Clothing label on gold underdress: BERGDORF-GOODMAN/FIFTH AVENUE AT 58TH STREET. Handwritten on tag sewn on back of label: Mrs. H. Fireston/10-16-40/64211. This garment was owned by Mrs. Harvey Fires…

  • Appliqued Silk Satin Evening Dress, 1947

    Appliqued Silk Satin Evening Dress, 1947

    Steel gray silk satin evening dress with dark blue velvet appliques in stylized leaf pattern above and below waistline. Blue velvet standing collar and short blue puffed sleeves. Separate blue velvet belt lined with gray satin. Clothing label: SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Handwritten on label: Mrs. Firestone/12-19-47/410. This almost surely served as a winter holiday dress.

  • Fuschia Silk Chiffon Evening Dress, 1953-1955

    Fuschia Silk Chiffon Evening Dress, 1953-1955

    Fuschia silk chiffon floor-length evening dress. Horizontal tucks in front become vertical in back. Loose, floating panels hang from waistline. This garment was owned by Mrs. Harvey Firestone of Detroit, Michigan.The floating panels would have looked fabulous as Mrs. Firestone danced. She liked this gown very much and had one made in white chiffon as well.

  • Embroidered Cotton Organdy Dress with Stole, 1955

    Embroidered Cotton Organdy Dress with Stole, 1955

    White cotton organdy gown with floral pattern embroidery. Embroidery includes white raffia, silver threads, silver beads, white horsehair, pearl-like sequins, silk(?) flower petals. Embroidery on bodice and wide band at the hem of the skirt. Underneath top layer is one layer of organdy, one layer of nylon stiffened with horsehair, two layers of white nylon net, and white silk slip. Matching wrap is large and oblong with same embroidery and triple scalloped end. Clothing label: PRINTEMPS-ETE 1955…

  • Evening Dress, 1950

    Evening Dress, 1950

    Dress and jacket of navy blue floral-embroidered net sewn onto flesh-colored silk chiffon attached to navy blue silk faille slip. Net has quilted effect made by tacking down net in area of embroidery, allowing remaining tulle to puff-up around edges. Dress is strapless, with small standing ruffle of net at bodice top. Separate waist-length jacket has navy tie around neckline, elbow length sleeves, and lining of navy blue silk organza. Clothing label: BALENCIAGA/10 AVENUE GEORGE V/PARIS. Handwrit…

  • Satin Embroidered Gown with Large Cummerbund Sash, 1950

    Satin Embroidered Gown with Large Cummerbund Sash, 1950

    Pale blue satin gown with embroidered floral patterns of 1/8 standing silver braid, silver beads, white and gray pearls, blue and silver thread. Embroidery applied heavily to create bands at strapless neckline and hem. Dress is straight with slight A shape towards hem. Cummerbund sash of fuschia pink faille, approximately twenty-two inches wide, gathered around waist. Large floor-length matching bow attaches to cummerbund; self-fringe at bottom. Clothing label: BALENCIAGA/10 AVENUE GEORGE V/PARI…

  • Black Velvet Dinner Dress, 1933

    Black Velvet Dinner Dress, 1933

    Black silk velvet dinner dress. Scooped neckline with trim and bow of white fur, possibly rabbit, ermine or weasel. Short, puffy inset sleeves. Flared bottom. This garment was owned by Mrs. Harvey Firestone of Detroit, Michigan.A photograph shows Mrs. Firestone wearing this dress with a black beret in January 1933 at a function for The Oxford Group in Akron, Ohio.

  • Tenth Anniversary Dress, 1931

    Tenth Anniversary Dress, 1931

    Off-white silk georgette dress with small silver bugle beads, rhinestones, and iridescent white and opaque beads embroidered in stylized flower and leaf motif at neck flounce, front right side, and around waist. Delicate embroidered rhinestone bow at right waist. Scooped neckline; curved seams over hip. All inset pieces cut on bias. Clothing label: Peggy Hoyt Inc./16 East 55th St. New York. Handwritten on back of label: Mrs. Harvey Firestone/No. 1477/Date 6-3-31. This garment was owned by Elizab…