Norman Norell was known to say that the interior of a dress was the most important part of the dress. His inner seams were cut two inches or deeper. He went to great lengths to create couture like quality in his designs and this meticulous approach to his work stands up to time. Norell pieces are works of art and examples of how to properly construct a garment. Norell launched his independent label in June 1960 after a successful partnership with Anthony Traina under the Traina-Norell label. His trademark was simple but elegant clothing and he was a roaring success. This is a stunning example of his work and the dress is immaculate. It was sourced from the same woman who the Sarmi dresses I am posting today came from and this may have been a custom piece made specifically for her at the time. 

Norman Norell dresses were not only extremely chic and sophisticated, they are also cut with exception mastery. Every line and seam is placed exactly where it should be to flatter the body and create an air of sophistication. This dress is a fabulous example of that and the lines of it are amazing. It is a chic silk crepe sheath and the lines that it is made up from and cut with have a long and sleek feel. The neckline is high and curves and wraps around the neck. I have photoed how the collar is set in so that it dips into a angled seam at the back. This subtle little detail is just beautiful and shows just how much he paid attention to the smallest details. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long. Each sleeve widens out at it nears the hem and is finished with an extra wide cuff made out of a natural mink. The waist is open and easy. The dress falls in a sleek column that gently widens out as is nears the floor. At the hem there is another wide band of mink wrapped all the way around. This anchors the design and also is set so that it holds the shape of the dress so that you get that beautiful line that you see. Don't be fooled by it's simplicity - it is seamed and constructed to couture levels and the finishes within it are superb. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a fine ivory silk and closes at the back with a hand set painted metal zipper. Hand finished throughout and made to demi-couture standards.

Shoulders: 14.5"
Sleeves: 23"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3608

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

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur pieces are final sale.

This is the twin of the dress that was worn by Judy Garland in 1963. It is tiny and I would like to think that somehow it is that exact same dress but I have no provenance to be able to prove it. What I do know is that this is one of Garland's most iconic photos and that the dress is incredible. having the photo also gives you an extraordinary example of just how fabulous it is on the body.

Norman Norell dresses were not only extremely chic and sophisticated, they are also cut with exception mastery. Every line and seam is placed exactly where it should be to flatter the body and create an air of sophistication. This particular dress is a fabulous example of just that and the lines of it are amazing. It is a chic wool jersey sheath whose fabric has a bit of texture to it and has a long and sleek line to the cut. The neckline is squared off and the sleeves are capped. There is an attached piped belt made of the same fabric that ties, and defines, the high set empire waist. From there it falls in a sleek column that gently widens out as is nears the floor. It closes off side and with a tightly spaced row of black buttons. These start at the square neck and run all the way down, ending with an open vent below the last one so if you choose to do a drama pose in it like Judy did, you can! Don't be fooled by it's simplicity - it is seamed and constructed to couture levels and the finishes within it are superb. I love it. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a fine black silk and closes at the front with the buttons as shown. The attached belt ties into place. Proper button holes finishes on all. Hand finished throughout and made to demi-couture standards.

Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10.5" from shoulder to seam under bust
Skirt: 42" from neck to hem, with 2.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3377

Reference Photo: Judy Garland in Norman Norell by Richard Avedon, New York, January 7 1963.

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

Norman David Levinson launched his label - Norman Norell in 1960 and he was quickly the darling of the social set and starlets. Lauren Bacall often wore his pieces fr example. He was known for his impeccable tailoring, meticulous fit, and quality fabrics. He often took day shapes and made them out of more evening appropriate fabrics - like fine silks as this one has been created from. He had the unique ability to translate Paris couture into American ready-to-wear and with prices to match their French counterparts.

I absolutely love this dress. The lines and cut are somewhat similar to a dress I have had in the shop previously that was dated to 1963. This one is even better then that one was with its bright and cheerful checked print. The silk is a very high and fine grade and I love a pink and white gingham print. It has an extravagant and wide, attached tie in the same fabric that you can use to create a dramatic bow as I have. It comes with its original belt covered in a matching fabric which allows the waist to be cinched in tight. The sleeves are incredible. Each is cut on a curve to follow the natural shape of the arm. The pouf up at the shoulders and narrow to the wide cuffed wrist. Each cuff is a full 4" long and closes with four thick, hand cut mother of pearl buttons. The interior of each sleeve is finished in a silk organza so that the sleeves keep that volume that you see. It is cut to be more fitted through the bodice and then the skirt has incredible volume. I took a photo of the inside so you can see how its gathered up and through the waist to give it that fullness. If you wished to, you could add a crinoline to get a really full look.  It closes down the front with another row of those same thick MOP buttons in a larger size then the ones on the cuffs. The workmanship on this dress is incredible. This is an amazing example of his early work and of dress making during this time period. Excellent condition with one small note below

Fully lined in a hand set white silk through the bodice and ivory silk organza through the sleeves. The skirt is unlined. Closes down the front with a series of hand carved MOP buttons. Each sleeve has four MOP buttons. The white on the silk of the belt has darkened a touch over time as you can see in the photos. The back of the belt is stamped Norman Norell. Hand finished. One side of the tie at the neck is slightly shorter then the other but this is how it is meant to be so that when you tie it they fall evenly. 

Sleeves: 26"
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of bodice to bottom of the waist banding
Skirt: 35" from waist to hem with a 5" hem turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3318

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