Need help dating coat - interesting label

J

Justyne

Registered Guest
FYI, I know nothing about vintage or fashion...

So I bought this coat, which appears to have been sold by J.W. Robinson's department stores back in the day. What is interesting is that the font on the tag inside of the coat does not match any of the tags I've seen online. The font I've see online appears a little more like cursive and the font on mine is more like neat print with a large R at the beginning. The coat feels and itches like wool, but it has shiny hairs all over it. When I bought it, the lady was referring to it as a "hair coat"? Not sure about this hair thing...can someone explain this material to me?

I'm wondering what year it might have been made? Any help, thanks!!!
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We have a wonderful Label Resource here & this is the link for Frank Gallant:
http://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/gallant-frank/
Here is an excerpt:
"A manufacturer of women’s suits and coats, the company was founded by Frank Gallant in 1916. Gallant’s son Herbert joined the company in 1945 and became president in 1955. Tom Brigance was the designer as of 1951 and stayed into the 1960s."
We actually don't have the label you show!
 
I can't really see the style of the collar, but my first impression is that your coat is late 1960's - around 1968 when the Midi length was re-introduced. If it's been shortened it could be slightly later and might have started as a "Maxi" coat. The font on the Brigance label is most similar to a late '60's label we have in the LR, (Brigance for Sinclair) but we will have to find out if Tom Brigance still designed for Gallant or was with Gallant in the late 1960's. I have not been able to find out or to locate a similar Robinson's California font - perhaps one of our great "sleuths" will be able to do that!

You've made a great purchase - the coat fits well.

Linn
 
Linn said:
I can't really see the style of the collar, but my first impression is that your coat is late 1960's - around 1968 when the Midi length was re-introduced. If it's been shortened it could be slightly later and might have started as a "Maxi" coat. The font on the Brigance label is most similar to a late '60's label we have in the LR, (Brigance for Sinclair) but we will have to find out if Tom Brigance still designed for Gallant or was with Gallant in the late 1960's. I have not been able to find out or to locate a similar Robinson's California font - perhaps one of our great "sleuths" will be able to do that!

You've made a great purchase - the coat fits well.

Linn
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Linn,

Here is a closer photo of the collar. It kind of reminds me of a scarf!

TO ALL - Thanks so much for all of your help! I had no idea this site had so many FANTASTIC resources!!
 

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I looked through seven newspaper databases and I found no ad for, or article about, fashions by "Brigance of Frank Gallant" after 1955. I also found these two references to his work for Gallant:

-- The New School archives special collection of Brigance material states that he was the "Exclusive designer at Frank Gallant in the 1950s..."
-- THIS brief biography of Brigance notes that he: "...; also designed in New York for Frank Gallant, and freelanced for Fonde, Sportsmarket, and designed swimwear for Sinclair and Gabar, Water Clothes, 1950s..."
 
Hmm, I thought early 60's.. late 50's? I'm often wrong, though, so I wouldn't take my word for it. Its lovely.
 
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