Help with this Nat'l Recovery Board Label?

Help with this Nat\'l Recovery Board Label?

Hi. It's been a long time since I've posted. My last post was an '80s Kenzo suit and you guys were really helpful. I'm hoping you can clarify this one for me. I thought late 40s, now I wonder if it's an early 50s suit? I read the VFG entry on the Nat'l Recovery Board label hoping that might illuminate or help me narrow the date.

This suit:
<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/4_11/02.jpg>
carries this label:

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/4_11/08.jpg>

Here are a couple detail shots:
<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/4_11/04.jpg>

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/itempics/4_11/05.jpg>

Am I right with my first thought--late '40s?

As an aside: would that we could find such labeling on clothing today rather than everything being cheaply made in China. (And I'm not just talking about Tar-zjay and other discount stores. I can't believe the price of ready to wear that's being made with no regard for fair labor practices.)

Further aside: My friend is a milliner. We were talking about her website development last week. She makes wonderful "dollops" for the hair in addition to some amazing hats. (You know, those colorful hair combs with feathers and flowers.) She was just shocked and appalled to find $4 feathery, flower combs at Forever 21, thinking, "How can I ever compete with that?! FOUR. DOLLARS."



Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might care to share.
Holly

 

I can see late 40s/early 50s.

Glad to see you posting again. Check your u2u. ;)

 

Good! Thanks so much for the reassurance, Brenda.

I'm actually going for something a tiny bit more specific date wise since I'm likening it to a suit from a movie that dates to 1940. If my suit is much (much) later than the look of that suit, then I think my description will seem kind of lame.

Perhaps you know the one Rosalind Russell wears as Hildy Johnson in the movie, His Girl Friday. I know it's not the same at all, but I couldn't help but feel like it shares some similarities to it with those mitered seams at the bust and pockets.

 

Hi Holly! (I'm the lucky gal who snagged your Kenzo!)

I have nothing wise to say about the date of your lovely suit, nor have I seen the movie you're referring to--just wanted to say I can see why you want to draw attention to that bust/pocket seam construction detail. It's very, very cool--a touch that would be way too labor-intensive to ever show up in an off-the-rack suit now...

As your milliner friend observes, the cheap-n-readily available has pretty much taken over the face of the earth...

 

Thanks, Carrie. I'm glad you're enjoying that Kenzo. I hope you are skilled at tying the belt, because that was quite a feat for me! I couldn't seem to get that to happen without a great deal of brow furrowing. I watched the Youtube tutorial on how to tie an obi many times.

Well...maybe I'm stretching it, but, here's Hildy's suit. (One of my all time favorite movie costumes!)

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/blog/hgfstripes1b.jpg>

I guess I was really just trying to convey the type of fast talkin', quit-witted banter that I associate with the type of woman who'd wear power suits during the 40s. If it's too 50s, it seems like that era is a whole different character type.

 

I love that movie! What year was it made?

 

Me, too! It's from 1940. Look at the sleeves on her suit! Holy guacamole. That is amazing.

This bit of trivia from IMDB was interesting:

"Rosalind Russell thought, while shooting, that she didn't have as many good lines as Cary Grant had, so she hired an advertisement writer through her brother-in-law and had him write more clever lines for the dialog. Since Howard Hawks allowed for spontaneity and ad-libbing, he, and many of the cast and crew didn't notice it, but Grant knew she was up to something, leading him to greet her every morning: "What have you got today?"

 

Lovely suit! Trying to date it, so will follow along.
About the 1940 film, and its clothing:
http://clothesonfilm.com/his-girl-friday-rosalind-russell-chevron-striped-coat/1805/

 

hmmm...It just seems later to me. The skirt length and overall shape, more rounded shoulderline etc...

 

It seems later to me too, just not sure what year.

 

Thanks so much!
So--we wouldn't think of this at all as being the '40s saucy, fast talkin' workin' gal suit?

I'm not thinking specifically 1940, but rather that feeling and mood of those kinds of films.

I thought the suit was late 40s, (which for me still fits the image I want to convey) but when I think 1950s, that's not quite the sensibility, is it?

I'm not sure if I can place that era film character-wise For me, I go straight from the 40s looks to the 50s I Love Lucy-ish styles. Nonetheless, I'm willing to re-tool my thoughts or what have you.

 

I do not see this as a Rosalind Russell fast-talking character type of garment. Although, just which film character it might be best associated with, I will have to think...

 

Thanks! This is really helpful.

I'm out of time, and have a bunch of thoughts. I can come back later, of course. In the meantime, I also wanted you to talk to me about this vintage beaded suit.

<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/blog/40sbeadedsuit1.jpg>


<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/blog/40sbeadedsuit2.jpg>


<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/blog/40sbeadedsuit3.jpg>


<img src=http://www.lucitebox.com/blog/40sbeadedsuit4.jpg>

It's from the same lot as the plaid suit. This lovely woman got some of her clothes from Chicago friends as hand-me-downs. Clearly, she didn't wear all of them. When I first saw the lot, I said to her relative and estate manager: "These must be Edna's work clothes." It turns out that Edna didn't work outside the home and never had much occasion to wear these types of suits. She just took whatever clothes her friends would give her no matter what! How lucky to have generous friends with good taste, huh?!


So--is this from the 50s, too? If so, how does it differ from a 40s suit exactly? This is rhetorical, I suppose, but why is it that all the wasp-waist suits I see online (often the ones made by Lilli Ann) that are this style are dated 1940s?

Details: The skirt is darted at the waist, it's a slightly a-line shape, quite long through the waist (my manni is pretty tall!), and the jacket has a very defined waist along with large, rounded shoulder pads. As you can see, the jacket is fairly long through the hip area.

Thanks for indulging me and helping me out here! Off to my other job I must go.

 

That looks late 40s to me...post war.

The bigger squared shoulders, a-line skirt + skirt length give it away for me.

 

I am in agreement with most of the others. I see early to mid 50's on your first suit. The collar and the detail in jacket where the fabric is turned in a different direction coming from the front yoke down to the pockets as well as the shoulders all seem that era to me. The second suit I see late 40's possibly very early 50's. Both are beautiful!!