Just in: The Little Black Dress by Norman Norell

Thoughts on The little black dress by Norman Norell...

The little black dress by Norman Norell is the fashion world equivalent to the art world’s minimalism by Ellsworth Kelly.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is taking fashion and reducing it to its purest form with clairity of shape, beauty in design and luxury in materials.  

The little black dress by Norman Norell is for the woman who wants to wear the dress and not the other way around.  

If the little black dress by Norman Norell could be anyone it would be Gloria Guinness.

The little black dress by Norman Norell does not shout, it murmurs closely and softly in your ear.

The little black dress by Norman Norell, can stand alone but will tolerate the perfect accessory.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is aloof and distant but warm and welcoming to those who understand it.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is as good today as it was fifty years ago.  And it knows it.

Here is the little black dress by Norman Norell 1960s and available for purchase at RARE vintage...

Just in:

1960s Norman Norell little black dress available for purchase at RARE vintage.
212-581-7273 or email info @rarevintage.com

love, kisses, and vintage, Juliana

Quote of the Day #5: Treasuring Norell

"For half a century, women have treasured their Norells as if they were emeralds or Renoirs.  They wear them lovingly for years, content that they're dressed in the best money can buy, then pack them away respectfully because they can't bear to part with them."

Bernadine Morris on Norell in the New York Times

He's Not from Indiana for Nothing: Norman Norell

So declared Amercian Vogue in 1972 of Norman Norell.  Really, I am not sure what that means but anyway that is what Vogue said and I guess they know their Indianans (which comes as a total surprise to me but Diana Vreeland was gone and Grace Mirabella was in as Editor in 1972 and she probably had more of a feel for a boy from Indiana then Mrs. Vreeland would have had.)

Minimalism rules right now.  American designers, I am sad to say, have been perhaps too deeply influenced by Phoebe Philo for Celine for their 2011 prefall collections.  I think we want to see not a watered down version of what she does for the House of Celine but something unique and personal to each designer.  But that is the great talent of Phoebe Philo and why I think she will be considered a visionary designer because she not only changed the way we want to dress, she made so many others follow her lead.

Norman Norell was an early minimalist.  Clean lines and perfect tailoring is the hallmark of Norell.   He is considered one of the best  Amercian designers.  It is perhaps not surprising that Michelle Obama chose Norman Norell to wear for a First Lady's first in wearing vintage.  His designs are timeless, classic and still modern.  

This navy jersey dress is classic Norell.  It can take you from the office to an office party to a cocktail party to an elegant dinner out.  Just a usual night out for us Manhattan girls this time of year.  So have fun, look amazing, wear to collect and collect to wear!

Navy jersey Norman Norell dress.  Size 4.  Fitted at the waist.  Zips up the back.  

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The Pussycat Bow

'O lovely Pussy!  O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'
-Edward Lear

Ahem.   Well, The Owl and the Pussycat was first published in 1871 and meanings have changed since then.  But what a big, beautiful pussycat bow on our 1972 Norman Norell navy wool jersey dress with a crisp white Peter Pan collar and bright red silk pussycat bow.  The pussycat bow is an iconic part of Norell's fashion designs.  A similar dress, originally owned by Lyn Revson, is in the Met's Costume Institute collection.

Don't be surprised and please don't slap the person who comes up to and says, what a beautiful Pussy you are!

1972 Norman Norell navy dress with red pussycat bow.  Size 4.  
Please note the dress is in pristine condition but is missing its belt.
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Birthdate!

Well, this birthday baby sold right away but we are happy to be able to accurately attribute its birthdate.

Father: Norman Norell

Birthdate: 1967

Distinguishing characteristics:  Still fabulous!

Do as the First Lady and Wear Vintage Norman Norell

Now, that is a title for a post that I never would have imagined writing before today, but there it is and there she was, Michelle Obama, in vintage Norman Norell in front of the Christmas tree looking beautiful,  young, alluring and indeed like a style icon.   

Norman Norell is as American as apple pie and just as delicious but only infinitely more glamorous.  So why don't you do as the First Lady of the United States this holiday and wear vintage Norman Norell?

This is an iconic crepe Norell cocktail dress.  I like to think of it as the fashion equivalent to the slow dressing movement.  The dress, in two parts, is a top with jeweled buttons which attach the skirt to the dress. There is a zipper so you don't really need to button and unbutton the dress each time but this dress is all about langour.  Take your time, have a cocktail, listen to some great music and sit at a dressing table to put your lipstick on for some fabulous party you are going to.  It may even be at the White House!

     1960s Norman Norell black crepe cocktail dress with jeweled buttons.  Size 4.

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To Catch a Thief

Or to catch a Clooney. As in George. We imagine George Clooney as the perfect lead in a Hitchcock film. Handsome, charming, great with comedy and not too concerned with being made to look ridiculous. No promises though. We supply the devastating dress, the rest is up to you!

Hitchcock's heroines were cool blondes: extremely elegant and very sexy. They knew what they wanted and they knew how to get it. Lisa Fremont in a tulle cocktail dress straight from the Paris runways, the mysterious Marnie severe and reckless or the haunted Madeleine undressed by Scottie after falling into the San Francisco Bay. There was a definite element of sophisticated sexiness to Edith Heads costumes for Hitchcock's films.

When we saw this 1960s Norman Norell ensemble we thought immediately of a modern day woman comfortable enough to know that what can be the most sexy thing is what is not the most obvious but what lies underneath. This champagne colored ensemble glides over the body, emphasizing waist, hips and long legs. The large black buttons on the back of the top call for a man to fantasize about unbuttoning them, the curve of the back and nakedness. Sometimes the point of getting dressed up is to eventually be undressed.

1960s Norman Norell ensemble. Unlabeled. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273