1950s Hattie Carnegie Green Silk Dress

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According to Valerie Steele in Women of Fashion, Hattie Carnegie, widely regarded as the 'mother' of American high fashion, was an ambitious immigrant who could neither cut nor sew, but was a savvy entrepreneur who built a multi-million dollar fashion empire by employing talents the likes of Norman Norell, Travis Banton (whose assistant at the time was Pauline Trigere) and Claire McCardell as designers. Hattie's love of clothes was apparent in her designs - always youthful and sophisticated, always using the best fabrics, always with the finest workmanship.  This sleeveless dress, in a lustrous Nile green silk shantung, demonstrates so well the Carnegie 'look' - a nipped waist and rounded hip. The dress has a round neckline with a deep split v between the breasts, and is accented with an interesting layered detail (pictured in the last photo) - set vertically at the bust and horizontally at the hip, where it extends to form a buttoned half belt at the back waist. The bodice is lined in ivory china silk, the rest of the dress is unlined. Back zipper closure. Bust is 37", waist 24", hip, 37", length 43". A tiny pinhole at the center back shoulder close to the zipper, and very slight fade at the edge of the right pocket. $275