Maternity Suit, about 1955

This suit was handmade by the donor's mother, Barbara Jean Thomas LaBarge, and worn during at least one of her two pregnancies from late 1952 to mid 1956.

Maternity Suit, about 1955

This suit was worn by the donor's mother, Barbara Jean Thomas LaBarge, during at least one of her two pregnancies from late 1952 to mid 1956.

Maternity Suit, about 1955

Swim Cap, about 1956

Shoes, about 1955

Mrs. Firestone probably wore these shoes during the summer.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.

Silk Ottoman-Style Dress with Short Jacket, 1952

Short, off-white, heavily corded silk Ottoman-style dress with jacket. Strapless bodice with side seams emphasized by satin cording. Two satin bows on either side of waistline. Dress has been slightly shortened. Underneath dress is one layer of stiffening, one layer of tulle, and slip. Matching jacket is popularly called a shrug. Clothing label on dress: AUTOMNE-HIVER 1952/Christian Dior/PARIS. Stamped on label: 090226. Handwritten on tag sewn on back of label: 54.034. Clothing label on jacket: …

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…

Blue Silk Faille Evening Dress, 1957

Midnight blue silk faille dress. Very wide decollatage with three self-fabric roses: one at each shoulder and one at center front. Bracelet length sleeves. Very full skirt gathered into waistline. Skirt lined with blue silk organza. Underneatth are three layers of blue net, petticoat with three flounces of horsehair-stiffened net, and cream silk slip. Hem taken-up one half inch. Clothing label: AUTOMNE-HIVER 1957/Christian Dior. Stamped on label: 090226. This dress is from Dior's last collection…

Embroidered White Cotton Summer Evening Dress, 1957

Strapless summer evening dress of white cotton, machine-embroidered with pink carnations and green stems. Neckline edged with applique carnations. Short full skirt over built-in cotton petticoat with four organdy flounces. Self-fabric belt. Clothing label: Salon Moderne/SAKS FIFTH AVENUE/NEW YORK. Handwritten on back of label: Mrs. H. Firestone/2-25-57/401.

Shoes, about 1958

This was a style Mrs. Firestone favored in the 1960s. We have several examples of this style covered in other materials.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.

Black fitted cocktail dress from the 1950s

Black, very fitted cocktail dress with wide band of black lace at bust and hip line. Black chiffon over beige crepe draped around scoop neck in front forming long bow down back to hem, back zipper. Label: "Howard Greer, Beverly Hills." Worn by donor to a dinner at Fishmonger's Hall, London, given by the American Bar Association at which Sir Winston Churchill made his last public speech in 1957.