Let's talk about....I. Magnin

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Let\'s talk about....I. Magnin

I noticed that we don't have I. Magnin in the label resource, and in light of all the other dept stores there, I thought it would be an important one to have. I know it was bigger on the west coast, so have no first hand knowledge. There is a book out there on the history of I Magnin, but before I jumped that far I wanted to find out if there was a bio ferreted away somewhere until the opportunity of having a label to go with it happened.

Wasn't there someone here who used to work for I Magnin?!?

Here is what I know:
I Magnin had been around since the early 1900s (don't know about before). They were a fixture on the west coast originally, famous for their service, high quality merchandise, and deco era stores. Many stars of the silver screen shopped there or wore items purchased there. The chain was purchased by Federated Department stores in 1964, which I learned in my research on Jordan Marsh. I also know that the division disappeared completely in 1996 . There was a Lilli Ann line created exclusively for I Magnin in Lilli Ann's later years.

Okay....here is the label I found. I am assuming this sweater dress is from the later years of I Magnin. Mostly wool with a dash of acrylic thrown in.

the right label size for Lizzie....
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/magninlabelresource.jpg" width=200 height=54>

here's a closer look for people
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/magninbig.jpg" width=400 height=107>

<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/magnin.jpg" width=360 height=584>

I am going to take a picture on the manni early next week, but this photo is for discussion purposes.

so anyways my questions would be 1) does anyone have anything they want to ad that would be pertinent for the Label Resource on I. Magnin aside from me editing what I have. 2) If someone did work for them, is it something you would have more knowledge on to take on the task instead of or with me. 3) Anyone venture to pinpoint this sweater closer than I. B/W I am thinking early 90s when everything was black and white (well this has cream in it too), but I am open to being wrong. No shoulder pads BTW. I am just not entirely sure.

Chris
 
You have a good memory Chris. It was my mother who worked for I. Magnin!

I have tons of I. Magnin labels, although nothing as early as Hollis' 20s label which I can't wait to see!!

I have been meaning to put them all together and get a bio done but as Lizzie can atest to, I am not the fastest gun in the holster!! :P

I would love to do a Magnins bio. Can it wait until after RAB??

Cheers ~ Maureen

Oh, and about your label... yes, that is one of the last Magnin labels. I still can't believe they are gone **big sigh**
 
Here are a few I could find

<img src="http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/30056787/Images/imagningoldbrn9.JPG">
<img src="http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/30056787/Images/magningreen28.JPG">
<img src="http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/30056787/Images/magningrey suit6.JPG">
<img src="http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/30056787/Images/missmagnin5.JPG">
 
Hollis - you are awesome! No rush...just put it here when you happen to get it.

Cool Maureen! Post whatever labels you have with dates. Would you say this label would be from the very end...more like mid 90s or would it be among the last meaning in the last 10 years of the store. I don't want to be sounding so picky, but want to be able to give a pretty accurate date for Lizzie.

I had an idea....maybe we can put my little pathetic bio up just for an excuse to have some labels be able to go up on the resource, but then when you complete the more substantial I Magnin bio, Lizzie could take my blurb and replace it with yours whenever you get around to it well after the RAB workshop, etc.

Whaddya think?

This is great...we might just have a royal flush of labels!
 
Slightly off topic, I picked this up a few weeks ago from an estate sale, it is an I Magnin catalog from 1981. I really love the illustrations from "Where The Wild Things Are". They were carrying stuffed animals from the book. (Wish I had one of those!)

I would also guess as to 90's on that sweater you have.
<P><img src=http://members.sparedollar.com/pinky-a-gogo/Iimag.jpg>
 
I *love* where the wild things are!! Are you keeping that or selling it, Tiffany?

Chris, like the Lilli Ann lines, either Pringle or Ballantyne did a line for I.Magnin in the 50s. I'll see if I can get my hands on one for you.

It's so great 'collecting the set' of labels!! This is the girly fashion equivalent of buying those sets of sci-fi collectors' cards that teenage boys love so much... ;)

Can't wait to see the final result of this meeting of minds/memories!!
lin
 
No, that's totally on topic!

are there any pics of clothes in there while we are at it?

And I also think "where the wild things are" is cool. I didn't own the book when i was a kid but had one of his other books. The book on Maxfield Parrish that Maurice Sendek did an intro for/edited is very sought after ( I WANT it!) - now THAT is OT. I wouldn't be surprised if someone would buy just the page/cover alone....but then again...people buy the color plates alone from the Parrish Sendek book because the real prints commanded so much more...but now the plates are selling for decent if not astronomical money as well.

If it were me I wouldn't cut it out and I would keep the catalog all to myself for reference or a "keep til its older" type of deal.

Lin, those pringle et al labels would be cool. I am sure Lizzie will love all this when she sees it, and i can't wait to see in a few weeks what Maureen has as far as a bio versus my psuedo blurb.

buying those sets of sci-fi collectors' cards that teenage boys love so much...

I shouldn't mention about my small set of star wars cards i have from when my brother and I were kids....being saved until they get a lot older...
 
That's a good idea chris, put the short bio up for now and I'll add more to it after RAB!!

Tiff, I remember that catalog!! I wonder if my mom still has her old Magnin catalogs or if she eventually tossed them (with all her old Vogue mags, ugh!)

Here are a few "sold" item Magnin labels

1980s I. Magnin Prom Dress
label.jpg


1970s Lanvin shirt dress
70s_mag_lanvin.jpg


1970s Travel Lite Robe & Gown Set
70s_mag_travel_lite.jpg


Not yet listed
1960s Jackfin Velvet Blazer
jackfin60s.jpg


Listed
1980s LBD Cocktail Dress
label.jpg


This is all I have photos of right now. I'll get more a bit later on!!

~Maureen
 
hi guys,

Yes, I will try to sell this at some point. I am supposed to be eliminating yet I keep buying. Bad bad bad!

There are lots of clothes in here. Very, very preppy 80's look. Also, lots of furs, Louis Vuitton and some horrible and extremely expensive Dynasty-like outfits scattered between chip and dip bowls and champagne glasses. :D

I'll scan a few pages later if you want to see. 1981 fashions were not pretty! LOL. Tiffany
 
Great Maureen!

Later I will put yours and Michelles labels into the Label Resource pixel format for Lizzie.

I will also check if those secondary labels are needed in the resource.
Do you know anything about Jack Fin or Party Formals? (i will look myself too) was Party Formals an in house line?

Tiff - STORY of my life. (buying too much). I have justified keeping some magazines because they are easy to store in a filing cabinet. There are some that i think are old enough (vine ripe, etc.) or relavent to sell, but some I think have archive value that I am putting in the file cabinet so it is not just "piles around the house". Yes, I would LOOOOVE to see some pictures. I remember the discussion about era cetagories and Jonathan was saying that in his opinion the start of the 80s fashionwise was the royal wedding. And I recalled 1980 really being more a part of the late 70s fashionwise....
 
Parking labels - resized for the resource.

Once you see your label here, you can clear it off your server if you need the space.

c. 1921 dress compliments of pastperfect2
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninhollis.jpg" width=200 height=122>

40s/50s cusp compliments of Vintagetrend
* this label was also in use through the late 1950s (thanks for the tidbit Hollis!)
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmichelle3.jpg" width=200 height=133>

Mid 50s Sweater compliments of Noir-Boudoir
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninlin1.jpg" width=200 height=87>

Mid 60s - Compliments of Vintagetrend
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmichelle1.jpg" width=200 height=42>

1961 Sade for I. Magnin Bed Jacket, a B. Cohen Original compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureensadie.jpg" width=200 height=45>

From a 1960s Jackfin Velvet Blazer compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureen60s.jpg" width=200 height=53>


Mid 60s - Compliments of Vintagetrend
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmichelle2.jpg" width=200 height=50>


Early 1970s - Compliments of Vintagtrend
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmichelle4.jpg" width=200 height=142>

From a 1970s Travel Lite Robe and Gown (pengoir?? set) compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureen80s.jpg" width=200 height=51>


70s from a Lanvin compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureen70slanvin.jpg" width=200 height=33>

From an 80s Party Formals Prom dress compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureen80sprom.jpg" width=200 height=48>

From an 80s LBD cocktail dress compliments of VintageGrace
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/imagninmaureen80slbd.jpg" width=200 height=62>


From a 1990s sweaterdress
Possibly very last I Magnin label
Note: although similar to the 80s label, the stitching is lighter.
compliments of patentleathershoes/KitschNSink
<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/magninlabelresource.jpg" width=200 height=54>

I will edit this post and put all the other ones in order as we get em for Lizzie's ease.
 
Just a note - that first label - the 40s -50s cusp. I recently sold a late 1950s dress with that label, w/o Importers, so they used it at least to 1958 - 9 or so

Hollis.
 
Here's a dress with the I. Magnin label - it was listed in the wrong category.

<A HREF="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6151027205&fromMakeTrack=true">eBay</A>

Notice that the seller thinks it is from the 1940s. ;)

Laura
 
Sometimes misidentifed newer things can be nice as well if you are looking for a wearable as long as you know what you are looking at, but I won't touch anything with sleeve rot. :( If I read correctly.
 
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