Hi all! I'm new. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this designer. I recently aquired a 30's velvet cape with a gorgeous green silk lining and it was bearing the label Mme. Lichtenstein '280 Park Ave New York' and 'Paris'. Any help would be appreciated!
Hi! I have never heard of her...but there are many smaller makers in NY, Paris, and LA, etc, that were not as widely known. We have a NY mysteries thread in the label resource forum for the ones we are still trying to crack the case on I would love to see a picture of the label and the cape!. Chris
Lauren - I'm not familiar with the label, but the cape sounds <i>very</i> swanky - I'd love to see a picture! Carolyn
busying myself with other peoples searches for information is much more satisfying! all i have found so far is a reference to her in an advertisment: "Some dressmakers copied from legitimately imported and/or pirated Paris designs, and also, by the late 1920s, from American models of the top custom houses or high-end wholesalers. Many ads throughout these decades echo two from a 1936 issue of Harper's Bazaar: those of Mme. Lichtenstein at 286 Park Ave, who had "just returned from abroad," and Janet Rose, Importer, who was "just returned from the Paris openings." (quoting Madelyn Shaw, Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design). so not particularly helpful, but one would assume that an advertisment in harpers wouldn't come cheap - unfortunately that's as much as i could find out with my limited research methods!
Hi Lauren I don't have any information to add, but I just wanted to say that the cape sounds wonderful. I would love to see a picture! Gail
we talked about that i think in the Hattie Carnegie workshop where folks would go to paris and then come out with their own version of the fashions under their line. you know what might be interesting is if you try the archives of the new york papers, etc. - you have an address so perhaps somewhere ferretted away is information on what year the establishment closed etc., or the various things that had been at that address.
if you are going down that route this may be useful as it contains an address for the millinery outlet in NY: completed ebay listing http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8319252735 the label is quite similar. and i also forgot to say i'd love to see it too!
Wow! Thank you all so much for your help! We have the New York Times on microfilm at the local community college here. I always love digging around in the fashion section of the sunday papers, so this will give me an excuse! These are pretty bad pictures, but they're all I have for now. I'll try to take better ones later:
Here's the label lightened up & resized for the Label Resource: <img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/1Leisa/lichtenstein.jpg"> And here is the cape - lightened up a bit, but these pics aren't much better than the originals. Oh well, I tried. LOL ya might have to give 'em a minute or so to load... <img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/1Leisa/cape01.jpg"> <img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/1Leisa/cape02.jpg"> xoxoxo leisa
Oh, what a fabulous '30s cape! I love it! Is it for your own collection or are you going to sell it? Laura
Thanks for lightening them up! That's sweet of you! This one' for me personally. A gal's gotta keep something every once in a while ;)
I agree with Harriet....and you, Lauren. That cape is definitely a keeper! It really suits you perfectly. leisa
Looky: <img src=http://members.sparedollar.com/fuzzylizzie/mmeleich.jpg> Ad is from the May 1937 Bazaar.
OOH! Thank you soo much! I guess advertising in Bazaar isn't bad ;) By the way, feel free to take the label if you haven't already. I forgot to email the pic to you!
