Circa 1944 Handwoven Black Straw Hat From WWII Era

The saying goes that there is nothing new under the sun, and so this could have been said when the English took the fashion world by storm in recent years with their fantastic Fascinators. This hat from circa 1944 could be used to prove that point because of its fascinator-shaped silhouette. 

The resounding design issue for milliners during WWII was to create elegant fashion that would fit within wartime budgets and this is a terrific example.  This hat style could not be simpler in design nor more frugal in materials. 

The hat is a tailored, forward-thrusting style that was considered quite stylish and popular during the 1940s decade; it was handwoven entirely from genuine black straw. 

Such hats were coined “doll hats” or “toy hats” and were worn by fashionable adult women. 

The loop designed onto the back of the hat was draped around a chignon styled or loosely coifed hair. This allowed the hat to safely perch at a seductive tilt to one side, over the forehead and slightly to the side of the head. As everyone knows from the fascinator styles designed over the more recent years, this design especially emphasizes the eyes. 

The hat is simple in design because clothing for the fashionable woman during WWII also became simple in line and materials out of necessity.
This simplicity allows the hat to be trimmed in any way that the wearer might wish, even with a simple ribbon or a brooch from your jewelry box. In the 1940s, women always had a small collection of silk floral millinery pins to trim their hats with. 

The hat is designed to fit a size 22 inches or 56 cm. Unfortunately, it has no maker’s mark whatsoever.

Vintage New Look 1940s Gloves Trimmed with Horsehair Braid and Glass Beads

These are exceptional mid-arm length gloves from circa 1948.

They are entirely hand sewn and a wonderful example of post-WWII era fashion that was profusely inspired by Christian Dior's The New Look.  Certainly, these gloves have that sought after 1940s vintage style and elegance. They are made of finely woven cotton and trimmed with an interlaced plied braid made from horsehair, metallic copper and cotton floss. Thousands of tiny hand stitches were used to create these gloves, which still have the early Lady Gay fabric label inside.  They are finished with twinkling glass beads.   Divine. 

Vintage Hollywood 1940s Fur Stole or Mink Capelet with Pockets & Provenance

This magnificent mink fur stole or capelet was offered for sale during the mid-1940s and was worn to Hollywood affairs.

The original owner was a teacher, a writer, an artist. She retired after many years of teaching service at the Indian Schools at both Anadarko, Oklahoma and Santa Fe, New Mexico. With too much spare time on her hands, she decided to teach the needy in Bakersfield, California, where she would also be near her sister and other friends.

Her older sister had been a model and was married to actor Tony Randall. The sisters were close and on occasion, they would meet with

friends in Hollywood and this stole was worn appropriately. Further historical information will be provided to the buyer if requested. This stole has never been on the market since it was first purchased.

The stole is beautifully tailored around the shoulders and has a wide collar that may be pulled up around the face. There are deep set pockets on both sides that are nearly invisible due to the fabulous design. This is a magnificent example and one that may be appreciated by vintage clothing enthusiasts as well as curators.

Fitted, the stole measures approximately 36 inches or 91.5 cm around the bottom edge, or sweep. The collar width is approximately 3.5 inches or 9 cm. The length of the lappets to the front measure approximately 9 inches or 23 cm.

Based on the style, the stole should fit most sizes. The mannequin model is size medium by most standards. The fur is supple. The interior lining is exquisite and clean…pristine. The stole is in vintage overall near mint condition with only a few very minor areas of rubbing of the fur.

Luxurious 1940s Dressage Boots from San Francisco's The White House

From the 1940s, these high quality, leather English riding boots were quite costly in their day.
 Made in England, the boots were sold through The White House, Raphael Weill & Company of San Francisco.

The White House is a well known historical California name, as it was the first dry goods company in San Francisco, opening in 1854.

The French owner, Raphael Weill, expanded the business into one of the most luxurious of all retail establishments during the golden age of department stores.

The Beaux Arts-style building was designed by Albert Pissis, a renowned architect and still stands at 256 Grant Avenue, San Francisco.

Weill’s store featured a glorious tearoom and such lavish elegance; all quite similar to Selfridge’s as seen today in the PBS series.

These exquisite dressage boots were imported from England and sold in the luxurious sporting goods section of this store sometime during the mid 1940s. When first offered for sale, these would have been considered the finest quality. They are complete with the original stretchers and boot hooks and also with The White House cardboard inserts.

The boots appear to fit a women’s slim 7.5 shoe size. The sole measures 11.25 inches or 28.5 cm end to end, across the bottom.

Marked: Mayfair Made in England. Circa 1945.

Vintage 1940s Gauntlet Gloves in Kid Leather Accurately Date Between 1946-1947

In vintage near mint condition, their glamorous style and quality are what first catches the eye. Obviously, these wonderful bone-colored, kid leather gloves are in that stylish 1940s gauntlet design. 

However, it is the interior labeling that will grab your attention. That seemingly minor blue stamp inside accurately dates their manufacture to between the post-WWII years of 1946-1947. 

Following WWII, Germany was divided into four zones after the Allied Nations defeated Hitler and the Nazis. These occupational zones were shared between the United States, United Kingdom, France and Soviet Union. These gloves were manufactured in Germany during this time of revitalization. We know this because of this particular glove company’s history coupled with the label marked “Made in Germany US Zone.”

The company was ARIS. ARIS was started in California by Arthur, Robert and Irwin Stanton during 1910 and the name is an acronym of their initials. The company owned a glove manufacturing plant in Germany, which was seized by the Nazis when the United States entered the war. At the end of the war following September 2, 1945, the California based ARIS glove company began work again in occupied Germany. Then in 1947, the United Kingdom and United States formed a unified zone agreement. Therefore, it is safe to say that these gloves were imported to the United States for sale sometime between 1946 to 1947. 

(see Evans, Judicial Decisions “Wartime confiscation of private property, Paris Reparation Agreement, 1946”) 

The gloves are made from exquisite and divinely soft kid leather. They have that definitive angled silhouette at the wrist, which is accented with eight kid leather flowers. The gloves are entirely hand sewn. Their quality is luxurious. 
They appear to have been worn and are in clean, vintage near mint condition. 

The gloves are accurately sized as a size 7 US or 7 EU. They are designed with ample room in the fingers for fashionable nails. Although they appear to have been gently worn, perhaps only once...these lovely nearly white gloves are a rare find.

Vintage 1940s Homburg by Stetson

This is a vintage Royal Stetson Homburg from the 1940s.

The felt feels like the softest cashmere to the hand. The quality is divine.

True to homburg design, the hat features a deep center crease in the tall crown. It has a firm, upturned brim that is edged with slightly contrasting silk grosgrain. A warm black silk grosgrain band surrounds the crown, and finished with a sharp bow.

This beaver hat dates to between 1945-1947 by its unique label. It is an exquisite example of a post World War II homburg. 

Scarlet Red 1940s Plumed Hat with Original Veil

Scarlet red and gorgeous.

This was the millinery silhouette required to top those 1940s broad shouldered dresses or suits with slim pencil skirts.  

The hat was obviously designed for a bold, energetic woman who was not afraid to show her colors.  It has all the class and style that  first debuted in France when Christian Dior launched The New Look, early in 1947.  It dates to circa 1948. 

The hat is worn at a flirty tilt and held in place with a millinery elastic. It features the original, heavily textured, French silk veil
that is unusually perfect. The upward thrusting feathered trim is mounted upon the same felted wool panels as that from which the hat is made. The trim is made from slightly iridescent French coq.

The hat's designer label is missing, unfortunately. However, the  millinery union label is there and also points this era. This hat is a wonderful example of post World War II millinery fashions.

Vintage Clothing 1940s Moordale Suit Made to Pass for Couture with Hand Tailoring

According to our research, this suit dates to 1949 based on the fashion illustrations and advertisements produced by the company, Moordale Casuals Incorporated.

Moordale produced elegant suits for upper class women starting in 1942 when they first registered their trademark and name.

Mooredale's advertisements appear in some of the most exclusive fashion magazines including Vogue during their early years. Some fo the most famous runway and photography models worked for Moordale. The company's logo was Junior suits, a size...not an age.

Moordale's suits were designed and marketed that their tailoring

appeared to be couture, when it was actually ready-to-wear. However, the overall quality and design is immediately evident with this suit and such gorgeous tailoring is rarely seen in today's ready-to-wear market. In fact, only the most basic piecing is done by machine on this suit. The rest is entirely hand sewn.

The suit features a flared jacket with perfect princess seams and double breasted darts. The sleeves end just above the wrist and are designed to be accessorized with fine gloves. The slim pencil skirt looks absolutely sleek beneath the fitted, high waisted jacket.

There are five hand-covered, fabric buttons with hand sewn button holes. The collar and double lapels are hand finished. Four glass rhinestones add just the right amount of tasteful sparkle. These are prong-set in brass findings. The elegant mauve lining is made from heavy rayon crêpe.

Vintage Soda Fountain Uniform from the 1940s Decade

Dated to the mid to late 1940s, this wonderful dress with apron is linked to all those romantic movie moments. 

Although the dress is quite pretty, vintage and fashionable...it was originally a waitress' uniform  worn at a soda fountain or roadside deli. Ice cream sundaes, boyfriends, pretty girls, juke boxes and hot rods...all circa 1947.

The two items come from the same estate, although the printed cotton muslin apron could be older since it is hand made. 

The dress is made from quality woven, check patterned cotton. The color is very dark navy blue and white. It is in a sleek, tailored design with a large inset pocket on one hip and a smaller pocket for tips and change.

The mother-of-pearl button are all intact and original to the dress. The v-neckline has a button hole at the back of the dress, at the nape of the neck where a collar or full length apron could be attached. The sleeves are short and puffed. The dress has a length that is well below the knee.

The dress is made by Werner Garments Incorporated at Cincinnati, Ohio. It dates to the 1940s through the label, as the company was known for making nursing and wait staff uniforms.