specialty fashion & textile sales

Garments and textiles for this autumn sale came from a variety of sources. Institutional collections represented included those from the Denver Art Museum, California’s Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and, from Massachusetts, Smith College and the Amherst Historical Society.

Garments from private consignors included collections from two remarkable American women.  Selections were offered from the closets of acclaimed Broadway costume designer & Tony award winner, Willa Kim.  Willa was a close friend of Rudi Gernreich in the 1960’s and clothing from her personal collection was featured. We also offered couture clothing from an American diplomat’s wife who lived in Europe immediately following WWII. This stylish lady bought directly from the Paris salons of Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, and Elsa Schiaparelli.

Rounding out this sale were the contents from a retiring vintage dealer’s posh Manhattan shop. Jim Smiley Vintage Clothing had a very select following, catering to many Hollywood and New York celebrities. Before moving to Manhattan 6 years ago, Mr. Smiley operated a shop on Magazine Street, the heart of New Orlean's antique district. A good deal of the clothing offered is mid 20th C designer and/or dead stock.

Featured garments included: 1939 couture Schiaparelli evening jacket, 1948 couture Dior cocktail ensemble, 1949 Jacques Fath red silk evening gown, 3 stenciled velvet Fortuny garments, 2 Rudi Gernreich 4-piece outfits, Belle Epoch gowns from the houses of Paquin and Rouff,  several 18th C women’s brocade items, 1770s embroidered gent’s suit, 19th C garments for men, women & children, beautiful whites, Egyptian revival beaded 1920s dress, paper dress lots, clothing from many internationally renowned designers including Charles James, Zandra Rhodes, Pucci, Galanos, Balenciaga, Balmain, Adrian, Beene, Chanel, Chapman and an large inventory of mid 20th C new old stock clothing for women & men.

Featured textiles at this sale included: an impressive collection of rare, very high quality laces from the 17th-19th C including several handmade lace wedding veils and unusual 18th C Flemish laces. Ecclesiastic garments & textiles were well represented, with several 18th C embroidered chasubles, maniples, and framed textiles.

A unique group of 18th & 19th C printed American political textiles, antique table & bed linens, embroidered & lamé shawls, quilts, coverlets, Aubusson & needlepoint items, rare batik & Sumatran ikat, paisleys, and more were also features of our fall 2006 sale.