Need info on this taffeta peplum jacket!

[Julie Dethloff]

Good evening!

I can’t find anything about this designer - I did see that Yowell’s in Sanford FL had been around since 1890’s and was the first air conditioned building in Sanford - but nothing more about Yowell’s - just listed as “dry goods.”

if I had to guess I would put this in the 1940s but I’m bothered that I can’t find anything!

thrifted for $7.

does “styled by” mean it’s one of a kind? when do you think this was made? Who was Zoe?

I’d appreciate any thoughts you may have.

 

[plousia]

Nice find!

 

[lkranieri]

I found a little information for you about the label...

A 1958 Miami obit for Daniel Silverman noted: "Daniel Silverman, 63...came here 15 years ago from Kansas City and was the proprietor of the Zoe Dress Mfg Co. Survivors include his wife Zoe and two daughters..." Another 1958 blurb stated: "Zoe Silverman, widow of Dan Silverman, will continue to operate Zoe of Miami as owner-manager."

Backing up a bit brings us to 49 year old Daniel's 1942 WWII draft registration, which notes he was living near Detroit MI, was born in Austria in May of 1893 and, at the time, his employer was the Fashion Cloak Co.

The 1947 Miami city directory records "Danl (Zoe) slsmn Sue-Preem Maid" (humorous company name) and a 1946 ad for Sue Preem Maid notes they were "Makers of Suits and Coats." The 1950 US census for Miami recorded Dan (55) and his wife Zoe (35 and born in PA) and two daughters in Miami, where Dan worked as a sales representative for coat and suit manufacturer(s?), which may have been Sue Preem.

The 1953 Miami city directory, however, listed "SILVERMAN, Zoe P., Mrs. (Zoe of Miami)" living at 260 SW 20th rd., apt. 6. and by 1955 articles appeared about an Irish designer, Patrick Drake (also listed several times in one article as Pathrick Drake), formerly with Miss America and now with Zoe of Miami, for "Miami's growing fashion industry."

I found no other mention of Zoe of Miami after Daniel Silverman's death in 1958.