philip hulitar

Beautiful 1950s Philip Hulitar Couture Brilliant Floral on Ivory Print Silk Strapless Dress

The three dresses I have for you today are more from that same single owner collection that I recently did two capsules from. Her collection was lovingly sourced over decades and she has decided that it is time let them back out into the world for others to enjoy. The first two drops centered around the 1930s but we have expanded into her collection to add some other decades this time. This dress is absolutely beautiful and the workmanship that has been put into making it is just extraordinary. Philip Hulitar designed under his own namesake label from 1949 to his retirement in 1964 so his pieces fall in a very defined window for dating. He was known for his sophisticated dresses and evening gowns. Shortly after the launch of his label a journalist gushed that; 'The star of a gifted designer has risen recently on the fashion horizon'. Prior to launching his own label, Mr Hulitar was the in-house designer and head of the women's dress division for Bergdorf Goodmans for 18 years. His designs are stunning and this floral number is to die.

This dress so beautiful to see. The fabric is an ivory colored silk that has a bit of texture running through it. Onto this is a stunning and vivid floral design that is screened onto the silk to give the impression of a painting. The flowers run over the entire dress and the colors pop off the ivory backdrop. It is just gorgeous to see. The cut of the dress is pure Old Hollywood starlet. The bodice is fitted and strapless and I love how it is set on an angle so that one side peeks up higher then the other. It is cut to follow every curve. It cinches in at the waist with one side of the bodice hand gathered just above the waist seam. At the base of the back there is a bow made of the same fabric. The bow has a bit of stiffened net inside so that it hold the shape. It is large enough that you just see it peeking out from the side as you move but not so large that it's overwhelming. This is all done to to add to your curves and the hourglass feel the dress has. The skirt curves over the hips falling to the floor in a column of silk. Everything about this gown is cut to emphasize your curves. The bodice is lightly boned and everything is done by hand. I love it. This would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event. Excellent overall condition with small notes below.

Fully lined cream silky rayon through the bodice and a silk organza through the skirt. There is boning in the bodice. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. All hand work from top to bottom. There are some small marks here and there that are all minor. Please see the first four photos after the label shot. The final photo shows the hem which has fallen. You can see there are two faint lines where it was hemmed before. I decided to leave it as is so the new owner can choose the length that works perfectly for them or leave it at its full length it is now

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam

Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# PS028

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Setting up a layaway is super easy and we are happy to provide this service!

Here's how deposits work on a standard layaway:

  • We require three equal payments of the layaway total. You will be invoiced for the first amount upon request
  • payment two of the remaining balance will be billed two weeks from the date of the initial deposit.
  • The final payment is due two weeks after the second payment and shipping will be billed on this invoice as well.
  • items less then $500, or that are on sale, require a 50% deposit with the final payment due in two weeks from the date of deposit 

Read More

We offer flat rate Standard UPS shipping worldwide. All shipping options are displayed at checkout in the pull down menus provided.

Want it faster?

We offer flat rates for expedited and express shipping options - these will also display at check out and can be selected with the drop down menu during the checkout process.

Read More

SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.