From GIVENCHY to THIS......THE SACK

avamac

avamac

Alumni
Hubert Givenchy designed a Paris collection dress in 1957 called the sack and it started the trend for straighter waist less shift dresses. We, in the US fell in love with it on Audrey Hepburn in the ultimate fashion flic: FUNNY FACE.

Here's a novelty dress in reaction to that trend; printed on flour sacking....





It says, in old-timey Grand Old Oprey style lettering:

"Be beautiful in a
POTATO
SACK

Looks like a sack
Feels like a sack
IS A SACK

and in a little frame;

Fill with 100lbs. or more of charm
and save money on
new French-inspired
creations

Guaranteed to loose
shape without
ironing.

For evening wear,
add Mink trimmings. "



HAS ANYONE seen one of these?

The dress itself looks home made; the sides from the hip down are gusseted to flare it slightly, and those gussets and the bottom ruffle are heavier material, a coarse linen or sheeting.

There's no advertising or indication of who made it, so I am wondering if it was sold--like rag dolls-- as a pre-printed 'sew it yourself' novelty.

It's definitely a piece of fashion history; rarer by far than the ubiquitous 'SOUPER' dress.. and, in my humble opinion, museum-worthy.

Do I feature it on eBay? Stick it in a trunk? What would you do?
 
There was an episode of Lucy where she and Ethel wore potato sacks that Ricky and Fred had convinced the two of them were haute couture. It may be a take off on that idea, or it may be a take off on the sack dress of 1957. Its a fun novelty but its not a work of art and doesn't, in my opinion, hold value like the CAmpbell's souper dress which is a variant of the Warhol soup can art. Nobody is going to frame this and hang it in their living room, although its fun and would be a bit of whimsy in a fashion exhibition on dress shapes.
 
Call me crazy, but I do see this having value as a decorative piece especially for theme restaurants. Can't you see this framed on the wall in a miami retro diner with Lucy and Desi framed photos serving cuban/american food?....Lorinda
 
Originally posted by avamac


Do I feature it on eBay? Stick it in a trunk? What would you do?
Click to expand...

I LOVE IT! Please let me know if you decide to put it on ebay. Forget framing it, I would wear it!:hiya:
 
COOL...I will definitely let you know. I seem to be in 'hover' mode right now, digging thru boxes, doing random photos...but not QUITE getting listings done.....I've always had a hard time producing until my back is to the wall, and it seems to be getting worse with age.
 
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