>

Apr
2024

Vintage Fashion Designer Spotlight: Fred Perlberg Dance Originals

categories: 1940s, 1950's, Vintage Fashion, Vintage Fashion Designer

As vintage fashion enthusiasts, it’s always a joy to learn about the designers who made your favourite pieces a reality (and to see more of those designs). For today’s post, we will dive into the world of one such designer who has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry: Fred Perlberg.

Fred Perlberg was well known for his beautiful party dresses and I’m excited to showcase the vintage ads & real life dress examples of his stunning designs.

Let’s begin!

1950s Fred Perlberg Dress with a tulip / petal bust and a full skirt. Stunning 1950s Fashion inspiration.

Source: Reddit

Further Reading: This post is a series I have done on Vintage Fashion Designers / Brands that I have wanted to showcase not only for my readers but also for myself! Take a read after your done.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Fred Perlberg-Dance Originals Designs

About:

Fred Perlberg (1901-1991) began working in the New York fashion industry when he was sixteen. Three years later, at the age of nineteen, he started his own company (around 1920). Fred Perlberg Originals were mid-priced party and dance dresses and were marketed across the United States and Canada. Fred Perlberg retired in 1968, but the company continued with Roger Milot as the designer (Source-Vintage Fashion Guild).

1940s vintage clothing label for Fred Perlberg Dresses
1940s Clothing Label

Vintage Inn Blog Note: I was unable to find any of his designs before the 1950s (a little bit in the 1940s) anywhere on the web. If any of my readers can shed light on this designer for the missing time periods that would be fantastic! Comment below.

Vintage Fashion Advertising

November 1940 advertisement: “Mountie Red”. Young Hollywood Fashions sponsored by Fred Perlberg, Inc.

1940s evening gowns inspired by the dramatic colors in Cecil B. DeMille, “North West Mounted Police” with Gary Cooper & Paulette Goddard.

1940s vintage advertisement / 1940s Fashions: 1940s evening gowns inspired by the dramatic colors in Cecil B. DeMille, "North West Mounted Police" with Gary Cooper & Paulette Goddard. Dresses by Fashion Designer-Fred Perlberg

“Holiday red…deep, glistening black-more festive this season because of Chromspun”.

In this 1950s ad, the Fred Perlberg designs highlight the Chromspun taffeta in the two gowns. A petal-skirted, matching sequin trim dress & a floor-length, with dramatic back black evening gown.

Chromspun (acetate fiber with the color locked in) is a trademarked product of the Eastman Chemical Company.

1950s fashion ad for Fred Perlberg evening gowns. One 1950s full skirt dress is in red, the other is a stunning black floor length evening gown.

Source: Pinterest

“Here comes the Bride”….This is an original 1956 color print ad for a princess-line wedding dress designed by Miss Lillian of Miriam Modes. Also featured is a long-bodiced bridesmaid dress of Chromspun taffeta with floating back panels, designed by Josephine of Fred Perlberg.

Further Reading – Vintage Photos: The 1950’s Bride

1950s Vintage Ad: This is an original 1956 color print ad for a princess-line wedding dress of Skinner's peau de faille with a deep box-pleated dust ruffle and a crescent inset of sequin-spattered re-embroidered Alencon lace, designed by Miss Lillian of Miriam Modes. Also featured is a long-bodiced bridesmaid dress of Chromspun taffeta with floating back panels, designed by Josephine of Fred Perlberg. Fantastic Vintage Wedding Inspiration!

Source: Period Paper

1950s vintage fashion ad featuring stunning full skirt gowns.

1950s vintage fashion advertisement for Fred Perlberg Dance originals featuring 1950s Circle skirt dresses. Fantastic 1950s fashions!

Source: Etsy-VintageVortex

1950s fashion ad featuring fashion illustrations of Fred Perlberg dresses for weddings, garden and even Halloween parties.

1950s vintage advertisement for Fred Perlberg dresses featuring an illustration of 1950s evening dresses. Fantastic 1950s fashion inspiration.

Source: Etsy-VintageVortex

“Dateline: Holiday Time U.S.A.” featuring pretty nylon tulle evening gowns in full length and waltz length.

1950s vintage ad for women's 1950s evening gowns by Fred Perlberg Dance Originals.

Source: Facebook

1stDibs has the actual dress in the ad above for sale on their website at the time of this blog post. I will share it below so that you can see the stunning details the advertisement just cannot show.

Description: 1950s Fred Perlberg white and Robin’s egg blue rhinestone encrusted strapless gown. Boned bodice. Hundreds of rhinestones really make this dress sparkle. Features layers of white tulle with blue silk satin around the waist (Source).

1950s Fashion: 1950s Fred Perlberg white and Robin’s egg blue rhinestone encrusted strapless gown ! Boned bodice. Hundreds of rhinestones really make this dress sparkle. Features layers of white tulle with blue silk satin around the waist

Real Life Examples of Fred Perlberg Dresses

(avail at time of posting)

Vintage Shopping: I have created a ‘Fred Perlberg Dresses’ Etsy Collection that is updated monthly. Happy Shopping!

(NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites).

The first Fred Perlberg 1950s dress reminds me of the dresses featured in the last advertisement above. A 1950s Prom Dress / Evening Gown in Taffeta (this one is dusty pink & sky blue (which can be seen in certain light) and tiered netting with a bodice that is boned and gathered. STUNNING!

Further Reading: Prom in the 1940s and 1950s

1950s Fashion: Fred Perlberg 1950s Prom Dress / Evening Gown in Taffeta (this one is dusty pink & sky blue (which can be seen in certain light) and tiered netting with a bodice that is boned and gathered.

Source: Etsy-SadieVain

1950s party dress with matching shawl. The fabric is textured and embossed. It is a strapless style with a heavily boned bodice and a nipped waist. The waist is pleated and the shelf bodice is sheer ivory fabric with a lace trim.

Fashion Note: I’m really starting to notice that Fred really liked dramatic bodices. Pleating, gathers, petal style designs. This will make it easy for all of you when you are out in the world to instantly recognize his designs.

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg Dance Originals party dress with matching shawl. Fred Perlberg was well known for his party dresses and this is a beautiful example. The fabric is textured and embossed. It is a strapless style with a heavily boned bodice and a nipped waist. The waist is pleated and the bodice is sheer ivory fabric with a lace trim. There is a built in crinoline to give the dress structure but I have also shown it with an extra crinoline. The dress has a metal side zipper with a hook and eye. The shawl has tasseled ends.

Source: eBay

1940s lime green Fred Perlberg dress with beautiful buttons down the front and a sheer ribbon bust.

The ebay listing says it’s a 1950s dress but it reminds me of the dress in the 1940s ad featured further up in this post. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

1940s Fashion (maybe 1950s?): 1940s lime green Fred Perlberg dress with beautiful buttons down the front and a sheer ribbon bust.

Source: eBay

“Holiday Red” like in another vintage ad featured above. Stunning 1950s Evening Gown with a full skirt and lovely pleated details. Beautiful.

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg Evening Gown-The dress is a gorgeous red color with spaghetti straps and a pleats off the shoulder sleeves/bertha collar that has a sweet little bow at the center. The bodice is fitted and it has a basque waistline. There are pleated swags on the sides and the skirt is wonderfully full. The dress is ballerina/ankle length and is unlined.

Source: Etsy- WoldsVintage

1950s dress with a fitted bustier boned bodice and a super full circle skirt with fantastic orange swirls on the fabric. A wonderful summer dress!

I am IN LOVE with this dress, but sadly I would not fit in it. But someone should buy it and then show it off to the world!

1950s fashion: a 1950s sundress, strapless by Fred Perlberg featuring orange swirls on the fabric and a full circle skirt.

Source: Etsy-VINTAGEVAVAVOOMZ

1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet (closeup photo below) and rhinestone embellishments. The dress also has matching, open arm band gloves.

1940s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet and rhinestone embellishments. The dress also has matching, open arm band gloves.
1940s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet and rhinestone embellishments. T

Source: eBay

1950s or 1960s emerald green satin fabric with a fitted bodice and full skirt, Fred Perlberg dress. Bodice is completely boned for support and ends in petal-like points of fabric at bust.

1950s or 1960s emerald green satin fabric with a fitted bodice and full skirt, Fred Perlberg dress. Bodice is completely boned for support and ends in petal-like points of fabric at bust.

Source: Etsy-NostalgiaVintage2

1940s Fred Perlberg silk taffeta evening dress. Once again the cap sleeves and bust area is what stands out in the design of this dress.

1940s Fashion: 1940s Fred Perlberg silk taffeta evening dress with cute sleeves.

Source: Etsy-OffBroadwayVintage

Looking for a “Little Black Dress”? This 1960s Fred Perlberg dress with decorative buttons would be perfect.

1960s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1960s dress. Black dress with decorative buttons down the front. Perfect "Little black dress".

Source: eBay

1950s elegant ivory silk chiffon halter gown with large flowers on the fabric. What a statement dress!

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg elegant ivory silk chiffon halter gown with large flowers on the fabric.

Source: Etsy-GlennasVintageShop

Question Time: Have you heard of this fashion Designer? Do you own a Fred Perlberg piece? What dress did you love above? Share any thoughts about this post in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz


Apr
2024

Vintage Photos Of People Tending To Their Gardens 1930s-1960s

categories: vintage images

Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to, “dig in and get your hands dirty” – it’s gardening time!

For today’s post, we are going to step into the world of vintage photos and take a look at people working in their gardens from the 1930s to 1960s.

Let’s get started!

1950s 1960s vintage photo of two women taking flowers out of a green house. One woman is wearing a cute 1950s 1960s novelty dress

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

Vintage Photos of People Tending to their Gardens 1930s-1960s

1939 photo of a woman in a cute playsuit working in her garden. What a great outfit! I need to look that cute when I garden.

1930s vintage photo of a woman in 1939 Gardening In a Summer playsuit.

Source: eBay

1940s (maybe 1950s) photo of a woman in saddle shoes holding seed packets & a garden trowel ready to plant.

Another super look! Love the rolled up jeans, the scarf around the hair and the letterman style jacket.

Further Reading: Vintage photos of people wearing saddle shoes.

1940s (maybe 1950s) photo of a woman in saddle shoes holding seed packets & a garden trowel ready to plant.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

The little gardener. Date unknown but how cute is a little boy on the stool watering the plants in the window? LOVE IT!

The Little Gardener. A vintage photo of a little boy watering his window plants while standing on a stool.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

1940s vintage photo of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company employees tending to tomatoes in a Victory Garden (via Canadian War Museum).

Victory Gardens: Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia (and beyond) during World War I and World War II. In wartime, governments encouraged people to plant victory gardens not only to supplement their rations but also to boost morale (Source).

1940s vintage photo of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company employees tending to tomatoes in a Victory Garden (via Canadian War Museum).

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

Another 1940s photo of a woman working in a Victory Garden / farm in slacks, hair scarf and short sleeve blouse.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in trousers, hair scarf and blouse working in a garden during WW2. 1940s Fashion Inspiration.

Source: Pinterest

One last Victory Garden photo. A woman with shorts and wide brim hat, tends a World War II-era victory garden at Breeze Hill in 1944.

1940s vintage photo: A woman with shorts and wide brim hat, tends a World War II-era victory garden at Breeze Hill in 1944.

Source: Smithsonian Gardens

1960s photo of a young woman with a super fun straw hat working on her flower garden.

1960s vintage photo of a young woman in shorts and fun straw hat working on her flower garden in her front lawn.

Source: Fine Art America

“Working on a tan AND the garden”. A 1950s vintage photo of a woman in her swimsuit planting a tree in her backyard.

"Working on a tan AND the garden". A 1950s vintage photo of a woman in her swimsuit planting a tree in her backyard.

Source: eBay

Time to start the cleanup of the patio garden! 1940s photo.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in a 1940s dress posing on a garden patio with plants beside her

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

Need to make sure the veggies are growing just so. 1930s vintage photo.

1930s vintage photo of an older man working in his garden.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverandPaper

July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor, in shirt and tie, discusses the plant he holds in his hands, with his gardening student.

1950s vintage photo: July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor, in shirt and tie, discusses the plant he holds in his hands, with his gardening student.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Here is another 1950s photo (July 1954) from this series…five gardening students and their teacher discuss flowers.

1950s vintage photo: July 1954: Niagara, Ontario Canada-A gardening instructor and his students discuss flowers.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

I would be proud to show off my tomatoes as well, if they looked this good!

1950s photo of a very happy woman with her tomato garden.

1950s vintage photo of a woman in shorts and plaid shirt working in her tomato garden

Source: eBay

1960s family enjoying some time together working on their front yard flower garden.

1960s vintage photo of a family working in their garden in front of their house in 1960s summer fashions for kids and adults.

Source: Fine Art America

Not all gardening has to be organic. Here is a vintage photo of a Japanese rock gardener at New Denver (village in British Colombia) continuing the picturesque tradition of oriental gardening.

Vintage photo: Japanese rock gardener at New Denver has continued the picturesque tradition of oriental gardening

Source: Library & Archives Canada

I will end this post with an image of the ‘Farmerettes‘.

Farms are just much bigger gardens, and Canadian Women’s stories must be told.

As young men went off to fight in World War II, there was a need for farm labourers in Southern Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Government responded by creating The Ontario Farm Service Force in 1941 “to recruit workers from all levels of society.” In this war effort initiative, the group with the most participation was the Farmerettes.

The Farmerettes were young women and primarily students, 16 years of age and older. They worked on fruit, vegetable, and truck farms (where produce goes to local markets). Over the summer, the Young Women’s Christian Association provided for their basic needs and supervised the work.

Looking back, Farmerettes remember the hard work they did to support the war effort and the great camaraderie they all shared. Many women have said these were “the best of summers.” The program was so popular that it continued for seven years after the war until 1952 (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Ontario Canada Farmerettes. Women who worked on farms to help the war effort at home.

Further Reading on the Farmerettes:

The Lambton County Archives (my hometown area) has a fantastic online collection of images, stories & so much more on this topic. I 100% encourage you to take a read.

There is also a book entitled, “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz-Memories of Ontario Farmerettes” by Shirleyan English & Bonnie Sitter, that you can purchase HERE.

1940s women's history in Ontario Canada: Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz-Memories of Ontario Farmerettes". Book by Shirleyan English & Bonnie Sitter

Thank you for stopping by and hopefully you enjoyed the vintage gardening photos I shared with you today. There is just no denying the satisfaction that comes from growing your own food or tending to a beautiful flower bed. I know I’m excited to get started as I have a large balcony garden that I spruce up with flowers and hot peppers (all with a Tiki theme). I just love my garden!

Question Time! Are you a gardener? Or do plants die just by looking at them? ha! Share any thoughts on this topic in the comments section below. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading:

Liz