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  • 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…

  • Adorned Satin Evening Dress, 1947

    Adorned Satin Evening Dress, 1947

    Sleeveless red satin dress. Wide scooped neckline decorated with gathered leaf-shaped pieces to form petal effect; similar piece pinned below waist. Seam at waistline; self-fabric contour belt. Full bias-cut skirt with box-pleat trim on inside of hem. Bodice boned, but dress unlined. Clothing label: Salon Moderne/SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Handwritten on label: Mrs. Firestone/11-28-47/402. This dress was probably made for winter 1947 Christmas or holiday parties.

  • 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.

  • Pearl Button Adorned Pink Evening Dress, about 1946

    Pearl Button Adorned Pink Evening Dress, about 1946

    Evening dress of blue chiffon over pink chiffon over metallic lace with pink silk lining. Neckline outlined with fabric flowers in shades of purple, mauve, yellow, pink, green; flowers have some gold embroidery and are interspersed with painted wooden beads in yellow and green. Dropped waistline. Blue hanging sash passes from back of right shoulder across front to left. Hem has wide band of metallic lace, trimmed with flowers. This garment was owned by Mrs. Harvey Firestone of Detroit, Michigan.…

  • Striped Taffeta Dress with Shawl, 1947

    Striped Taffeta Dress with Shawl, 1947

    Horizontally striped taffeta dress in green, blue, pale blue, and pink. Taffeta covered in navy blue machine lace in floral design. Strips of lavender, blue, and pink taffeta applied to lace in front; two vertical, three horizontal. Long rectangular lace shawl with same taffeta strips at either end and two strips placed on diagonal. Strapless bodice boned and slightly elongated at waist.Clothing label: ORIGINAL/CARRIE MUNN/NEW YORK. This garment was owned by Elizabeth Parke Firestone, daughter o…

  • 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…

  • Wool Blend Sleeveless Sheath Dress, about 1952

    Wool Blend Sleeveless Sheath Dress, about 1952

    Sleeveless sheath dress in navy blue wool/silk or wool/mohair blend. Composed of two panels, front and back, buttoned together at shoulder and along sides. Back panel pleated from knee-level to hem. Standing collar and hip-level pockets edged with white pique. Separate same-fabric belt edged with black patent leather. F (for front) and B (for back) embroidered at neckline; R (for right) and L (for left) embroidered in pockets. Clothing label: 1837(1?). This dress is not labeled, but it looks lik…

  • Satin Jacquard Evening Dress with Diagonal Stripes, about 1947

    Satin Jacquard Evening Dress with Diagonal Stripes, about 1947

    Satin evening dress with black-and-blue diagonal jacquard stripes. Bodice with wide neckline edged with aqua ribbon; ribbon covered with white lace interspersed with gold metallic thread patterns. Seams in bodice pulled. Elbow-length sleeves. Full-bias twelve-gore skirt edged with black box-pleated ruffle on inside of hem. Clothing label: ORIGINAL/CARRIE MUNN/NEW YORK. This garment was owned by Elizabeth Parke Firestone, daughter of Mr. Harvey Firestone of Detroit, Michigan.Elizabeth Parke Fires…

  • Shoes, about 1946

    Shoes, about 1946

    French shoemakers were not exporting much in the 1940s during World War II. These may date circa 1946. Born in Decatur, Illinois in 1897 Elizabeth Parke married Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone, in 1921.Once described by a friend as, "the most luxurious woman in the history of luxury," Elizabeth Parke Firestone's clothing collection illustrates her impeccable taste in fashion.

  • Women's two piece suit of black taffeta and fine black wool from the late 1940s to mid 1950s

    Women's two piece suit of black taffeta and fine black wool from the late 1940s to mid 1950s

    Woman's two piece suit of black taffeta and fine black wool. Skirt has graduated petals of black wool with three covered buttons over a very full, waltz length taffeta skirt. There is a side zipper.. The jacket is single breasted, with self-covered buttons. It has a rolled collar and shoulder pads. Long, tight sleeves with cuffs. Flares over hips. Label:(at neckline) "Irene"

  • Velvet and Lace Two Piece Party Dress, 1947

    Velvet and Lace Two Piece Party Dress, 1947

    Two piece party dress with under-skirt of black velvet. Over dress of black is accentuated with rhinestone buttons down the front. Waistband is of black velvet. This garment was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Crepe Day Dress Accented with Covered Buttons, 1947

    Crepe Day Dress Accented with Covered Buttons, 1947

    Black crepe day dress accented down the left front with royal blue crepe and black covered buttons. This garment was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Textured Wool Day Coat with Wide Cuffs, 1947

    Textured Wool Day Coat with Wide Cuffs, 1947

    Violet textured wool day coat lined in violet taffeta. Coat has self covered buttons and turned up wide cuffs detailed with buttons. This garment was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Red Wool Hunting Jacket, 1947

    Red Wool Hunting Jacket, 1947

    Red wool hunting jacket, which was owned by Alfred Gaston Wilson (1883 – 1962), husband of Matilda Rausch Dodge (Wilson). Matilda was the widow of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Company.

  • White Poplin Hooded Parka Trimmed with Wolf Fur, 1947

    White Poplin Hooded Parka Trimmed with Wolf Fur, 1947

    White poplin hooded parka with patch pockets and hood facing of brown embroidered poplin. There are strips on the hem and cuffs of red and brown grosgrain ribbon. The hood and cuffs are edged in brown wolf fur. This garment was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Hooded Poplin Parka with Wolf Fur Edging, 1947

    Hooded Poplin Parka with Wolf Fur Edging, 1947

    Brown hooded poplin parka with trim on the hem and sleeves of blue and yellow grosgrain ribbon. Parka has patch pockets and the hood edging and cuffs are in white wolf fur. This garment was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Feather Cloche Hat with Dotted Veil and Feather Rosettes, 1947

    Feather Cloche Hat with Dotted Veil and Feather Rosettes, 1947

    Pink feather cloche accented on sides with feather rosettes. Hat has a black dotted veil. This item was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Silk Serge Hat with Painted Feather Accents, 1947

    Silk Serge Hat with Painted Feather Accents, 1947

    Navy silk serge hat with accents of navy and white painted feathers, which was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Fur Felt Hat Accented with Feathers, 1947

    Fur Felt Hat Accented with Feathers, 1947

    Gray fur felt hat accented with orange feathers with black and white tips, and a gray veil. This hat was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.

  • Felt Hat with Painted Feathers Accents, 1947

    Felt Hat with Painted Feathers Accents, 1947

    Gray-brown felt hat with accents of brown and white painted feathers and a gray-brown veil. This hat was owned by Matilda Dodge Wilson (October 19, 1883 – September 19, 1967),who was the wife of John Francis Dodge (October 25, 1864 – January 14, 1920), co-founder of the Dodge Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.