Malcolm Starr Numbered ?

[UndoneMrs]

Hi, I came across this vintage Malcolm Starr that was hand numbered, was wondering if it was probably made to order, also has I Magnin label. Thanks !!!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I'm not familiar with that particular label, but I often find that vintage garments have numbers, words and all kinds of things written in them for all kinds of reasons, so I wouldn't take it that it was necessarily written in there at the time of manufacture, eg, it could have been written in there by a collector or a wardrobe department, for identification and catalogueing.

My experience is that bespoke garments often have specific labels that might also include info like dates, customer name etc.

Curious to see what others think?

Nicole

 

[Sky Ranch Vintage]

I think that the dress is an off the rack piece and not custom. The things that lead me to this conclusion are the IMagnin department store label and the fact that the numbering is written onto the brand tag. Malcom Starr was a high end designer and I doubt that any woman who would go through the trouble of purchasing a couture dress would accept a tag with a pen written number onto it. If it were a custom piece I would imagine that there would be a separate tag that would be hand numbered and possibly other information stating that it was couture.

I am with Nicoles thoughts, that it could have been a museum piece or possibly used in film or theatre.

Regardless, it is a gorgeous dress by a high end designer of the time. Be sure to check our label resource for more information of Malcom Starr.

 

[Catbooks1940s]

the I Magnin department store label and the fact that the numbering is written onto the brand tag.

completely agree it's off the rack, for those reasons. come to think of it, did malcolm starr do any couture? so few american designers did.

it is a *wonderful* dress though. i'm crazy about the color palette and the print! love, love, love that jadeite green, vermillion, gold, black combo.

on a side note, i've never seen an i. magnin label machine stitched in like that. they're usually tacked on the four corners. i'm assuming the labels came loose and its previous owner machine stitched both back in.