CAROL CHANNING

AUTHENTIC - CAROL CHANNING /
BOB MACKIE "Diamonds" Dress



#3300 - c. 1975 Original BOB MACKIE Silver Beaded Fringe Dress Worn by CAROL CHANNING! First off, I love what I found online...

"When broadway star Carol Channing sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the 1974 musical Lorelei, all that glittered was not what it seemed. Designer Bob Mackie created the show's eye-catching costumes, including a bejeweled dress for the character Lorelei Lee's big number. (Channing had gotten her big break in the Anita Loos play Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and starred in its revival, Lorelei, 25 years later.) The showstopper of a dress, which Channing wore for all of the production's 320 Broadway performances, now resides within the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Mackie's extravaganza, with its hailstorm of stones from Czechoslovakia, weighs about 40 pounds. 'The first time I took a bow in that dress,' Channing told me recently, 'I fell over forward and almost broke my teeth.' During the production, Channing had to make a quick change between scenes. 'I told Bob that getting out of that dress in one minute was almost impossible. So he said, "Take off the sleeves."' (Channing would wear the costume in both configurations.)" SO... TAKE NOTE: This is one of the highly coveted Bob Mackie/Carol Channing's "Diamonds" dresses WITH the sleeves!!

Carol wore many of her pieces multiple times, and had certain "iconic" designs that she would wear over and over again! In 2007, someone robbed Carol of her original, most famous 1974 Bob Mackie "Diamonds" dress that she wore on stage in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, which was valued at $150,000!! Luckily the dress was recovered and returned to Ms. Channing and has since gone to the Smithsonian. So she obviously values these dresses highly!!! As for this Bob Mackie Diamonds dress, the sketch for the shorter version of this dress designed for the 1974 Broadway production of Lorelie sold at auction for $960! (the sketch only!)! Condition is Good... amazing for such a heavy dress! The netting at the shoulders is a bit torn under and the dress weighs a ton (OK, I'm slightly exaggerating!)

Post Title → CAROL CHANNING

Silk Ball Gown

Rare 1820s Raspberry Silk Ball Gown

Evening dresses of the 1820s were decorated with all types of fancy borders including rouleaux, the bands of bias cut fabric stuffed with wool or cotton that would provide additional body and shape at the hemline. In addition the hemline is decorated with a pinked silk ruffle above the rouleaux and above that a scalloped flounce accented with satin appliques that appear to be flower buds about to open. The dress has a slightly empire waistline with the bodice fitted with a series of three vertical darts on both sides of the bust.

The neckline is rounded and set off by delicate hand made lace and satin trim. The satin is carried around the neckline and extends in layered "petals" across the puffed short sleeves. Each petal is edged in lace and the sleeves are decorated with the same bud shapes and scalloped edging as is found at the hemline. Back closure with hooks and eyes. The sleeves are lined with a fine silk gauze that is deteriorated but this is not noticeable when on display.

The condition of this gown is remarkable! There is no shattering of the silk and only a few minor holes about the size of a pencil eraser are noted, a couple of which have been backed with tiny pieces of matching silk. There are also a few scattered and minor organic discolorations of the silk which do not detract and should not be unexpected on a piece of this age. Faint crescents of underarm discoloration are also present but again, do not detract. No noted weakness or deterioration of the fabric other than noted.

Post Title → Silk Ball Gown

Victorian HOT Raspberry

1889-1892 Victorian HOT Raspberry Pink POPPY straw bonnet French Italian Couture
This is a stunning and unusually colored phenomenal Victorian bonnet of vibrant raspberry handwoven and wired chip straw, trimmed with WONDERFUL vibrant pink hand-painted silk poppies and a huge boned silk taffeta bow! This absolutely stunning hat was made in the height of frivolous French and Italian couture worn in Paris 1889-1892 for the extremely rich who did not need a bonnet do anything than look charming on a summer day. Made by "Mme. Josse at 3 Boulevard Italiens, Paris (underneath)" (written in stylized yellow-gold of the finest makers). Mme. Josse was a famous hat maker at the time. The straw crown is very tiny, and diamond shaped. Four separate brims make up the "Flower petal" brims (bonnet made to resemble a flower!). The handmade and hand painted thick silk poppies surround the brims, and the very decadent and poufy boned bows decorate the front. Long, stylish pink silk taffeta ties tie prettily under the chin. There's a white silk tissue bun holder on the inside with the tag. This stylish bonnet was definitely the most frivolous but beautifully decorated head wear in her hatboxes. Due to condition- Bonnet is Sold "ASIS."

Condition:

I consider this bonnet strong enough for wearing, but I could also see it in a serious collection or museum due to the rarity of the style, colors and materials used. The vibrant raspberry straw is strong and supple, I see some straw "separations" but no breaks. The poppies have some light slight soil sprinkles and a few pinholes. The poppies, bow, silk bunholder and tag are all original, but I believe the pink silk taffeta ties have either been removed and cleaned at some time or replaced altogether. They seem to be era correct, but have 5-10 snags/ and irregularities, a pinhole and a tiny soil mark. The silk bunholder has holes through it from the rough straw, and the tag has some wearing at one side where it came away from the bonnet. (But due to the age mellowing, soiling and colors, it's obvious this bunholder and tag is original to this amazing piece.)

Price is: $585

Post Title → Victorian HOT Raspberry

1910 Edwardian

1910 Edwardian MARGUERITE Madame Marge' COUTURE EVENING GOWN Metallic Lace

What a gorgeous, remarkably made early Couture designer gown with "corset" style waist by MARGUERITE!

Ms. Madelyn Shaw (the Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Rhode Island School of Design and Art) wrote a research paper on the Tirocchi Sisters, and touched upon this enigmatic designer, MARGUERITE, (with grateful assistance from another unpublished research paper by Filomena D'Elia of Washington, D.C..) I wish to thank and credit both of these ladies for this important information below on Marguerite's little known life plus works, to be able to describe the background of this special designer made this wonderful gown.

Ms. Shaw referred to this early, important, but nowadays not generally well-known but successful designer of the 1910s -1920s- late 1930's, Marguerite, (later on known as Madame Marge'). Marguerite's dressworks are noted in the research to be documented within the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York (in their Special Collections Library) possessing some of her original gown design sketches, trim clippings, and even dated photos of Marge' Models from 1921's, R. Mallinson's Blue Book of Silks. In the 1910s, Madame Marge' (or, Marguerite as we know her from this time period) appeared often in the American Silk Journal, and was featured for her excellent use, execution and styling of American silks.... MARGUERITE even won the Gossard Trophy from the Fashion Art League of America, (a very big deal in those days) for Excellence in Dress Design an amazing THRICE in a row (1915 to 1918)! For apparelling Ms. Marilyn Miller (of the Ziegfield Follies fame), Marguerite (Madame Marge') was awarded the Mallinson Cup for Excellence in Stage Costume Design, standing on her own alongside the works of the famed Erte's fabulous Zeigfeld Follies designs. Ironically, even with Marguerite's tremendous good press over her career, she'd managed to maintain a low profile, and so is believed to have chosen and preferred to make her living designing clothing predominantly for an exclusive, word-of-mouth clientele... (her name is noted to have never appeared in fashion magazines of the era, such as Harper's Bazaar or Vogue.) Interesting fact to mention also that her story had never been published like many of her more famous female contemporaries suchlike, Lady Duff Gordon (Lucile Ltd.). Now that you know a bit about this wonderful designer, Marguerite, I believe you can only appreciate how remarkably elegant and substantial this example of her earliest 1910 dinner gowns from her truly was!

The use and execution of the silks employed in this truly classic, Edwardian dinner gown are exceedingly in the Paris style fashion, with uncommon and beautiful styling... yet, very true to what is usually considered a much plainer period in American fashion. The magnificent Edwardian bodice has a pointedly dropped "V" (Gasp...to the waist!) with loosely pleated, Bretell oversleeves (loosely overblown panel sleeves, as I have seen similarly styled in a "May Manton" fashion pattern) trimmed in yards of hand-made, one-of-a-kind self-fabric, tubular, "Rolleaux" style leaf motif patterns, even with dangling epaulet balls on shoulders, and large Rolleaux patterns directly on the breasts! (Oh my!) Back is decorated much like the front, and closes with hook and eyes.

The net under bodice appears to be made primarily of deep ecru Reticella/ Cluny needlework over net in combination, mixed with insertions of ground net/ with satin-stitched, hand-embroidered flowers, Irish crochet medallions, and woven, hand-knotted shadow lace made in the Valenciennes lace style- in an ode to Fall season wearing- a flowers-to-seeds motif. Very ornate and striking. There's metallic ribbons outlining the throat area, and elbows, ending in fancy, lacy "flowered" Chevrons at elbows and wrists.

The ebony-black, soft, silk gossamer sheer overlay of this resplendent Edwardian gown is trimmed profusely in a keyhole pattern of shiny and smooth, Glace' silk taffeta with many, large, padded needlework crochet balls, and large, leaf patterns of yards of Rolleaux hand-knotted trimming, and 1910's styled era tucked hem pleats! Notice the intricate pleated pintucking around the waist to form a very structured, but faux corset, perfectly?! Wow- is all I can say... Marguerite was a REALLY talented designer- the folds all lay perfectly, molding smoothly into the softly flowing skirt to train! There is no underlining to the skirt (never was) so a dark petticoat was worn with this dress.

The inner bodice is made of net, with flexible, cream, twilled silk taffeta liner. You can see Marguerite's tenacious hand stitches inside in black- (this whole gown is a virtual testament to the old school of hand styling...) she made silk taffeta pleats inside at underarms to fill out and acetuate the sides of the bust, and between the breasts to add to the feminine ideal of the "monobust" phenomenon that had been all the rage. All her inner seams are curvy and hand-finished, and has featherboned stays lined in silk twill. There's a lace "Modesty Panel that could (or not be) used by tightening down, and it's edged in original, sturdy, high quality pink, silk satin ribbon. The cream, woven grograin silk satin Petersham at the waist says, "Marguerite, 49 West 39th St., New York" and attached with shiny silk thread in an "X" pattern. Has a quality overall weight and touch to the hand. A decent size 4-5, tall! This is a "WOW WOW" antique Couture gown!

Condition:

This superb dinner gown is overall in very good condition, with only minor concerns to be mentioned. With this being an early designer of importance to the evolution of ladies fashion, and little data known of her to this date as of yet, I really do not recommend wearing this gown... however lovely and mostly stable the overall condition is... someday someone will likely do a biography of her, find out some obscure but important facts about her, and she becomes a household name like Jeanne Lanvin, or Coco Chanel! This beautiful Edwardian gown would do very well in a clothing museum or important collection of old vintage designers. That said, the condition is stable enough it could as it could easily be on a display, or almost be worn (if a few minor things were done first to shore up a few minor things.)

First, there is a very sheer, ultra fine, silk gossamer gauze inside of the sleeves/ outer underarms that have some small tears/ wearing. This liner should just be removed (or, relined with china silk or cotton net if desired). Personally, removing the sheer should just be enough. The inside of the bodice netting had been well replaced some time ago (long before me) and this stabilized the inside well enough that it could actually be worn. (I wouldn't remove this net although it is not original to the gown... In this case, if you did not know it was not original, you might not even realize it, so this fact makes it really not worth removing...) All the ecru needle lace is slightly dingy and has a few, tea-colored, tiny spots. Metallic pieces are darkened with age- related tarnish. Ideally, if a talented needle woman removed these lacy pieces and carefully hand cleaned them (removing the sheer sleeve lining at the same time) then replaced these sections- this gown would have almost a new appearance otherwise- the other silks used still glisten with lustrous good health. (No dryness or dry rot.)

The black sheer silk has a few pinholes (as to be expected), and a few vintage, woven mends on skirt. On bodice and skirt there's 2-4 of the black crocheted balls missing- they are almost impossible to make out as missing as the designs are so intricate. One might be able to replace these or make some, or move a few of the others if desired...again, I consider this to be minor. Silk Petersham, and all steel hardware strong, good working order, no obvious looseness, rust or tarnish. A real prize! One of the prettiest 1910 gowns you are ever likely to see, ever.

Price is: $1825

For ordering, go to "Order this item" toward bottom of page.

Post Title → 1910 Edwardian

Antique and Vintage Clothing

A love of vintage clothing can lead to a small home-based business. These old clothes are still easy to find and easy to resell them from home. Vintage, antique and used designer clothing has become very popular in recent years. Collectors are wearing these classic fashions from the past.

Rare pieces could earn their owners enough to cover a car or mortgage payment. Online auction houses show thousands of items everyday in these categories. Study those sites to get a sense of what to look for – what collectors are actually buying. With time and experience, the investor will learn the language of dress design, fabric and fashion. And there are also numerous books available on vintage clothing which will prove helpful.

Selling Vintage Clothing Online

Vintage clothing is a renewable resource and as products, they are still easily found on the cheap. Begin with a very small investment and experiment by listing it on an online auction site. Present the piece well. List all the details, measurements, label information, fabric type and flaws. Take excellent pictures without any fuzziness. Show the item at its best in a good clear manner. A dressmaker's dummy would be ideal.

Selling Vintage Clothing in a Consignment Store

Consignment clothing stores will happily accept good vintage pieces. They typically take thirty percent or more from the final retail price, so the consignee should set his or her prices accordingly. The consignor will check the item thoroughly for wear and note any flaws. These stores typically want items that people will wear, not simply own. It could take time for the item to sell. Three months sitting in a shop is long enough.

Fashion Periods of Note

Circa 1960 designer and mod dresses are highly sought after and fortunately still easy to find. Try to stay away from anything that screams 1980s. The '30s and '40s were great fashion decades, and those clothes are being worn as well as collected. Many dealers make this era their niche, but it's fine to mix it up.

Post Title → Antique and Vintage Clothing

IT’S usually easy to distinguish between clothes and costumes: either

Drawing the line between polish and pretension is trickier, especially when last year’s costume can be this year’s classic, and next year’s yawn. Just consider the steady infiltration of 19th-century haberdashery into the 21st-century wardrobe. Garment after garment has arrived on the scene that one might think more Gilbert and Sullivan than Bergdorf and Goodman, only to be taken up by the young beards.

Not long ago, big brass-buttoned military coats looked a bit extreme. So did high-button, high-lapel vests and slim tweed trousers. And so did guys who tucked said trousers into high, old-fashioned hunting boots. Now these clothes (along with those ever-present beards and mustaches) look like downtown defaults compared with fall runway looks like cardinal-red tailcoats at Ralph Lauren, capes and bowlers at Alexander McQueen and knee breeches at Robert Geller.

As with home design, where curio cases, taxidermy and other stylish clutter of the Victorian era have been taken up by young hipsters, many of today’s popular men’s styles have their roots in the late 19th century. There are the three-piece suits once favored by mustachioed Gilded Age bankers; the military greatcoats and boots of Union officers; and the henley undershirts, suspenders, plaid flannel shirts and stout drill trousers worn by plain, honest farmers.

Just ask Taavo Somer, whose restaurant Freemans, with its mounted animal heads and antique oil landscapes, has been one of the trend’s most active petri dishes (and who lives the fantasy sufficiently to enjoy shooting skeet on weekends upstate). Even his eyebrows went up recently when he saw a young man dressed in a bowler, cape, breeches and knee socks on the Lower East Side.

“We’ve already seen the comeback of the butcher and the baker,” he said. “Next thing is going to be a hipster candlestick maker.”

The antiquarian aesthetic is far-reaching, with tendrils in the worlds of art (as in the work of the fashionable painter Walton Ford, opening Thursday night at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in Chelsea) and film (as in “There Will Be Blood,” “The Prestige” and, next month, “Sherlock Holmes”). But it has made its deepest inroads in interior design and men’s fashion. Just as in the late 1990s, when mid-century Modernism seemingly infiltrated every apartment, men’s wear shop and restaurant, this messier, cozier and more idiosyncratic Victorian dandyism is now reaching into all sorts of fashionable spots.

It decks the dark wood-paneled walls of the trendy Jane Hotel and the Bowery Hotel and A-list-y restaurants like the Spotted Pig and the Breslin. Somehow the look seems even more sincere in Brooklyn eateries like Vinegar Hill House and Marlow & Sons and in antique shops like Obscura Antiques & Oddities in the East Village and Luddite in Williamsburg.

Similarly, the look’s most popular components — tweedy vests, woolen trousers, henley undershirts, dark wool ties, scratchy cotton shirts — appear to have an added dose of authenticity when unearthed in tucked-away shops like Amoskeag XX and Against Nature on the Lower East Side, or Hollander & Lexer in Brooklyn. Often they are made in New York by small labels like Engineered Garments and Freemans Sporting Club, Mr. Somer’s line.

The photographer Mitch Epstein, who lives near the Freemans shop on the Lower East Side, said that the store and its aesthetic had so won him over that he recently bought a charcoal-plaid three-piece suit. “These are not the kind of clothes I was wearing,” he said. “I’m more high modern. But there’s a comfort and quality in them, a respect for what you wear and how you appear to others, but in a way that’s not heavy-handed.”

Part of the appeal, in fact, is in how the clothes relate not to the runways or the estates of Europe, but to America’s heartland in ways that few fashions do. Country and city men alike have rediscovered old-school American brands like Filson, Orvis, L. L. Bean and Duluth Pack. Obsolete hobbies like wet-plate photography are finding new enthusiasts; long-outmoded farming practices are being revived. Even deer hunting with old-fashioned muzzleloaded rifles, which have to be loaded with gunpowder, a musket ball and a ramrod, has come back in force in some states.

Who knows, maybe the troublesome comeback of the North American beaver population will lead to a new appreciation of beaver-fur hats. They would be welcome at Paul Stuart, where beaver collars adorn greatcoats worthy of Andrew Carnegie, or at the Harlem workshop of the stylish hatter Rod Keenan, who has been selling bowlers, derbies and, this season, even a handful of top hats.

Post Title → IT’S usually easy to distinguish between clothes and costumes: either

Victoria

Custom Order Deposit for Linda M. $900.00
Civil War 1800's Purple Satin Black Mantle Reenacting Gown	Civil War Walking Gown With Matching Wrap Pale Green and Cream
Civil War Southern Belle Dress Gown Cranberry Reenacting Dress	Victorian Bustle Gown 1869 Gold and Ivory Extravagant Walking Ensemble
Custom Civil War Ball Gown 1866 Godey Peterson fashion plate	Civil War Era Gown 1866 Elegance in Blue and White
Southern Belle Civil War Gardening Ensemble in Pink and White	Southern Belle Civil War Evening Ball Gown Black Lace
Civil War 1800's Evening Gown Lavender and lace	Civil War Southern Belle 1863 Gown in Red and White
Southern Belle Civil War Dress Gown Dupioni Silk See it in Southern Lady Magazine June July with Shabby Lane Shops	Colonial Dress with Wrap 1750 's Williamsburg Gown "

Post Title → Victoria

Civil War Gowns Southern Belle Dresses Antebellum Dress Costumes

Southern Belle Dresses
Antebellum Dress
Costumes
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Victorian Bustle Dress...Civil War Ball Gowns...Bustle Evening Gowns...Bridal and Wedding Gowns...Antebellum dress....Reenactment Dress..Southern Belle Dress...Gone With The Wind Frocks.

Please contact me for availability on custom orders.

What is it about 1800's gowns so lovely you have to take a second look...The gentle swish of fabrics...layers of trims...laces...pearls. Yards upon yards of shimmery fabrics. Dresses that took weeks to make. Does the idea of a custom made Victorian or Civil War gown appeal to you ... or an already completed gown that is just what you were looking for!! Please take a peek at my offerings ...

Several of the gowns images are from the original 1800's Godey Peterson's Ladies Journal. Beautiful examples of Dickens era and Victorian bustles. I have been fortunate to acquire several copies of this genteel magazine. It is filled with short stories...poetry...recipes...household hints and of course gorgeous patterns for the fashionable women of the day.

Your historic reproduction gown will be custom made to fit you in your choice of colors and fabrics. (Fabrics other than mentioned in description will vary in cost) Typically your gown will be completed in three to four weeks. If prior orders have been placed your gown may take longer.

Completed gowns are ready to be shipped within seventy two hours. (unless miner alterations are needed) Please see descriptions for sizing. New items will be added weekly, so please come back and take a peek!!

I INVITE YOU TO VIEW SAMPLES OF COMPLETED GOWNS IN MY GALLERY. GALLERY LINK IS LOCATED ON LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE UNDER INFO.

To see additonal photo's of gowns for sale, just click on each image!

Post Title → Civil War Gowns Southern Belle Dresses Antebellum Dress Costumes

Retro Vintage 1980s Sequined Evening Dress

Retro Vintage 1980s Sequined Evening Dress. A fabulous English retro vintage full length evening dress in black and white, dating to circa 1987. This wonderful sexy evening dress has a fitted and boned bodice, completely covered with black, white and cream sequins. The dress is ankle length and it has a full polyester skirt, which swishes nicely when you move. The skirt of the dress is gathered into the fitted waist and it has an underskirt and net petticoat all sewn in, to give it some shape. The dress has sequined straps, but, these look like they have been added and they could be easily removed if you wanted to wear this strapless. The dress fastens with a rear concealed zipper and it has a cloth label, which reads: Bernshaw. A really great dress, very light and easy to wear, all you need with this dress is big hair, and you'll truely look like a diva! The dress is in great shape, with no flaws or damage, excellent condition.

Post Title → Retro Vintage 1980s Sequined Evening Dress

Black Prom Dress

Prom dresses are now shipping for prom 2008. eDress. Me makes your dress shopping easier. We search the market so you will not have to. Over 1000 styles are organized by category so you can easily focus your search: 2008 prom dresses, cocktail dresses, evening dresses, casual dresses, sundresses, formal gowns for weddings or bridesmaid dresses, plus size dresses, little black dresses, homecoming and special occasion gowns. Prom dresses 2008 offer more varity than ever before. Decide your look for prom 2008 and start shopping now.

Best Prom Gowns, Best Evening Dresses, Short Party Dresses, Cocktail Dresses, Plus Size Dresses, Short Red Dresses, Black Dress and has much more in store for you. We are not limited to this only in lieu every year we come up with new styles of dresses with different patterns and mode. Its numerous varieties of Designer collection, Ball gowns, Party Dresses, Ball Party Dresses, Wedding Dresses, Spring Dresses, Evening Dresses etc., has made it the best place for a woman to explore them.

You have a wide variety of black prom dresses created by a number of designers to choose from. We carry several sizes and colors which are ready to ship for your prom. The black prom dresses we stock are designed by: Alfred Angelo, Alyce Designs, Amber Nicole, Cassandra Stone, Dalia , Joli .

The little black dress is the pride of most women’s closets. It is the versatile, sexy dress that can be called upon at a moment’s notice to transform a woman from ordinary to glamorous. The little black dress can also be a great prom dress, because, after all, it’s never too early to start filling your closet with nightclub and cocktail attire. The little black dress is sexy, fun, flattering, and perfect for this prom season.

Black Prom Dresses: Black will always speak of elegance and formality. With a dash of strategic decoration black can be sporty and fun as in these Loralie styles of black. A black prom dress is the most versatile dress you can get. It will never go out of fashion, can be very trendy as well as very sexy. Your black prom dress will be a treat for your future parties, too. It especially adds elegance to the late night club events and parties that you attend. You have innumerable options for accessories with that black prom dress; if you want to stun people with a classic look, go for darker accessories, and for fun and playful night, choose the brighter accessories.
If you are shopping for black and white prom dresses, you’ll have no trouble finding beautiful, unusual and exotic styles to choose from. Every formal gown shop sells black and white dresses to suit every formal occasion. The only trouble you’ll have is finding one that suits your personality.

Black prom dress also conveys the image of "sophisticated". Also getting that black prom dress online could be the easiest way to shop. You can save time by walking around shops. Imagine you can browse to hundreds of black prom dress conveniently, quickly and easily. That's what wonder of our modern technology can do.

Post Title → Black Prom Dress