Perry Ellis Experts!!!

Gail Brassard

Gail Brassard

VFG Member
I was about to list this Perry Ellis skirt and looked up the label--It's not in the VFG label resource (happy to add it upon confirmation of my suspicions). It is unlike any Perry Ellis Portfolio labels I've ever seen. A cursory Google search says he established an earlier PORTFOLIO label while working for VERA from 1975-78. In 1978 he established Perry Ellis Collection and Portfolio as we know it came later. Could this be from that early collection? The skirt is a simple straight mid-calf style, no waistband, unusual front side-seam closure. I believe it is a raw silk. no fiber or size labels. Thanks in advance! thumbnail (21).jpg thumbnail (20).jpg
 
Hi Gail! I am a huge fan of late 1970s Perry Ellis, and that's what I think you have—something like 1978 or 79.

Notice the logo in this ad? 4/23/78
The_Tyler_Courier_Times_1978_04_23_page_76.jpg


This is from 4/22/1979:

The_Tennessean_1979_04_22_Page_97a.jpg


Screen Shot 2023-03-06 at 10.08.58 AM.png


It seems like there was "Perry Ellis for Portfolio" intermixed with "Portfolio Perry Ellis" in 1977 and 78. The earliest Perry Ellis (1976) was the slouchy Big Look, and he went toward more refined lines by this point.
 
[




TE="denisebrain, post: 778383, member: 73"]Hi Gail! I was a huge fan of late 1970s Perry Ellis, and that's what I think you have—something like 1978 or 79.

Notice the logo in this ad? 4/23/78
View attachment 168425

This is from 4/22/1979:

View attachment 168426

View attachment 168427

It seems like there was "Perry Ellis for Portfolio" intermixed with "Portfolio Perry Ellis" in 1977 and 78. The earliest Perry Ellis (1976) was the slouchy Big Look, and he went toward more refined lines by this point.[/QUOTE]
 
Gail Brassard said:
[
Thank you! My love affair with Perry began around then--couldn't afford his stuff at the time--but after assistant designing on some Broadway shows in 1982 and getting a REAL paycheck--the investing began! I have some really early 80s things in storage, and when I see Perrys now, I buy, get high from owning them at last and resell--as I'm not a size 8 anymore! Close, but not quite--and you know what they say about re-visiting trends you actually lived thru! (Though I just tried on a 70s Paganne I've been hoarding and IT FITS!! Will wear in NYC next week!)


TE="denisebrain, post: 778383, member: 73"]Hi Gail! I was a huge fan of late 1970s Perry Ellis, and that's what I think you have—something like 1978 or 79.

Notice the logo in this ad? 4/23/78
View attachment 168425

This is from 4/22/1979:

View attachment 168426

View attachment 168427

It seems like there was "Perry Ellis for Portfolio" intermixed with "Portfolio Perry Ellis" in 1977 and 78. The earliest Perry Ellis (1976) was the slouchy Big Look, and he went toward more refined lines by this point.
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
 
denisebrain said:
Hi Gail! I was a huge fan of late 1970s Perry Ellis, and that's what I think you have—something like 1978 or 79.

Notice the logo in this ad? 4/23/78
View attachment 168425

This is from 4/22/1979:

View attachment 168426

View attachment 168427

It seems like there was "Perry Ellis for Portfolio" intermixed with "Portfolio Perry Ellis" in 1977 and 78. The earliest Perry Ellis (1976) was the slouchy Big Look, and he went toward more refined lines by this point.
Click to expand...

The feel of that skirt on the right is very similar!!
 
-- A 1979 article said about Perry Ellis: "He opened the door to designing when he joined Vera Cos. five years ago as vice president and merchandiser of sportswear. Two years later he started designing his own line, Portfolio, before opening his own company, Perry Ellis Inc."

-- A 1979 article about Mitchell Gross stated "He stayed for two seasons (at Gregge Sport), until he learned that Perry Ellis was leaving the Portfolio label to have his own division. He arrived at Portfolio with a team of three..."

-- A 1980 article noted: "Portfolio II is closing 'due to a lack of funding from Manhattan Industries,' according to Mitchell Gross. The line is produced by Blouses by Vera, a division of Vera Industries, owned by Manhattan Industries...Gross began designing for Portfolio II for fall 1979, when Perry Ellis, previously designer for Portfolio, opened his own company under Manhattan Industries..."

NOTE: These small excerpts are included here for Fair Use educational purposes only. Do not reproduce this copyrighted material anywhere else.
 
[/QUOTE]
lkranieri said:
-- A 1979 article said about Perry Ellis: "He opened the door to designing when he joined Vera Cos. five years ago as vice president and merchandiser of sportswear. Two years later he started designing his own line, Portfolio, before opening his own company, Perry Ellis Inc."

-- A 1979 article about Mitchell Gross stated "He stayed for two seasons (at Gregge Sport), until he learned that Perry Ellis was leaving the Portfolio label to have his own division. He arrived at Portfolio with a team of three..."

-- A 1980 article noted: "Portfolio II is closing 'due to a lack of funding from Manhattan Industries,' according to Mitchell Gross. The line is produced by Blouses by Vera, a division of Vera Industries, owned by Manhattan Industries...Gross began designing for Portfolio II for fall 1979, when Perry Ellis, previously designer for Portfolio, opened his own company under Manhattan Industries..."

NOTE: These small excerpts are included here for Fair Use educational purposes only. Do not reproduce this copyrighted material anywhere else.
Click to expand...

Thank You so much for this VERY specific info! I have a timeframe!!
 
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