UPDATE JANUARY 2023 –at the time when I wrote this article there was a question about the timeline of the strike. My original blog post said 1949. That was not correct.
Some time around 1947 (not 1949 ) according to the LIFE archives, Arthur Murray dance teachers went on strike. Thanks to a friend of mine with access to the NY Times archives I now know that the strike was INDEED in 1947 and here is the news story….
But before we begin I would like to start off by saying that it was a slightly odd picket line. Yes there was your standard strike signs, but there was also women in swimsuits, a shirtless barefooted man, people dressed in different time period fashions, face masks, conga lines and of course lots of dancing.
Gosh, sounds like a fun strike to me!
Source: Google/LIFE
“Working at Arthur Murrays isn’t just a song and dance. We want job security!”
Source: Google/LIFE
“My master leads a dog’s life at Arthur Murrays studio”
Source: Google/LIFE
“An Arthur Murray Teacher on Arthur Murray wages”. This seems to mean she can only afford a sweater, shorts and dance shoes. MAYBE that is why the women are wandering around in their swimsuits, to show that they can’t even afford a shirt on their back?
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
Early 1900’s Fashion made an appearance at the strike.
Source: Google/LIFE
Charleston and 1920’s women’s fashion.
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
There are no descriptions to any of the images but this does look like the negotiation table. Or at least the place where all the demands were being collected.
Source: Google/LIFE
Source: Google/LIFE
That is the end of our dancing/striking teachers photos. I do hope their demands were met and dance was once again enjoyed by all that stepped into their studios.
UPDATE (Nov 30th): Thank you to Jeff Kellem (@composerjk) for shedding some light on the strike for us. It seems that there might of been multiple strikes in 1947 (as of January 2023 I can 100% confirm the strike was 1947). The image below is from New York city and the caption states 1947 as the year (Source).
Source: Huffington Post
As for the demands that the dance teachers were looking for, thanks to the civil suit Jeff found entitled ‘Gomez v United Office and Professional Workers’ we now have some insight.
Here is what they wanted:
Defendants and the dance studios of Arthur Murray in New York are engaged in a controversy concerning the terms and conditions of employment of Arthur Murray’s dancing instructors in New York. This controversy concerns minimum wages, union recognition, job security, grievance procedure and an alleged lockout of dancing instructors employed in the New York studio (Source).
Lastly Jeff also believes that the images in my post are from a Chicago because the Cable Building (57 East Jackson Building), on 57 E. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL is in the image (GREAT EYE Jeff!)
Now dear readers, if any of you know anything more about the strike please share in the comments below. Thanks!
Opening this weekend in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is the ‘Christian Dior Exhibition‘ and this Vintage Gal is biting at the bit to see it. I know it’s going to be an incredible exhibit with some of the most stunning dresses in the world.
Why Dior? Vintage Dior is dreamy and of course historical because Christian Dior was the one who broke the wartime rigid mold of women’s fashion (mostly due to the rationing of fabric) and created the “New Look” in 1947. This look was filled with tight-fitting jackets with padded hips, petite waists, A-line skirts, and lots of use of fabric (as seen below). Quite a change from the previous decades of fashion and this look (plus extensions of this style) would go on to dominate the fashion world for several years.
“It’s quite a revolution, dear Christian! Your dresses have such a new look!” Carmel Snow, the former editor-in-chief of the American edition of “Harper’s Bazaar,” said these words after Dior’s debut fashion show in Paris, on February 12, 1947
For today’s post I want to take a walk down memory lane of some of the most beautiful vintage dresses the house of Dior created between 1947-1957. Additionally, I have also included a video of a fashion show, vintage ads/covers and even dresses you can buy today (if you have the money).
The Fashions of Christian Dior 1947-1957
Examples of Dior Dresses in Vintage Ads, Images & Museums
“Cherie” (Spring/Summer 1947) exemplifies the “New Look” in all its salient elements: sloped shoulder, raised bustline, narrowed waist, and a monumental volume of skirt falling away from a padded hip line to below the calf (Source).
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art
One of the biggest fans of the Dior New Look was Princess Margaret, seen below in the 1950s in a stunning dress (lots of fabric used in this dress).
Source: Frock Advisor
Christian Dior 1947 Rose France Strapless Evening Gown fashion illustration.
Source: Pinterest
1949-1950 Dior Evening Gown.
Source: The Lady and Him
Jean Patchett modeling a Dior Sarong style evening gown, 1951.
Source: Pinterest
Cygne Noir Dress 1949-50 from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Source: The Red List
Christian Dior with model Dorothy Emms reviewing one of his evening gown creations, 1952.
Source: Another Mag
This image of a model wearing a gray Dior suit outside the Louvre Metro station was photographed by Mark Shaw in Paris in 1957 for LIFE magazine.
Source: The Red List
Christian Dior with models in his 1950s evening gowns.
Source: Another Mag
UK Vogue 1953 Magazine Advertisement for a Dior evening gown sold at Harrods London.
Source: Pinterest
1952 Vintage Dior Ad for couture dresses. What a stunning Dior Dress on our lovely model!
Source: Pinterest
Vintage Dior Dresses
(updated June 2024)
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Note: If you click on an item and it is no longer available, don’t fret! The websites I have provided are updated daily with 1000’s of new & vintage items. Just do a quick search and see what you find.
Christian Dior Haute Couture dress from Fall 1957 was given the name “Venezuela” by the designer and is crafted from an olive green silk. The dress has substantial weight and features a divinely draped bodice and a very full skirt.
1954 Christian Dior Haute Couture ‘Lily of the Valley’ satin evening dress suit.
ABOUT THE DRESS: This line was called “Lily of the Valley” and placed a new emphasis on organic construction (the princess lines). The width of the bust evolves out of the stem of the waist which is anchored in the ground (hips and peplum). In comparison with other examples from this line, this piece was a pre-cursor of the H line which was shown in the fall / winter of 1954.
In the H line, the whole torso was outlined (the fitted jacket without a line cutting the waist) and was then mounted onto the flared full skirt. This was perceived at that time as youthful.
It was also expensive to mount a new line and the clients paid so much per piece for their acquisitions, changes were usually slow and incremental although the fashion press needed to accentuate any innovation, often out of all proportion to reality, to justify their existence.
Although the New Look was already 7 years old, its silhouette was still dominant. Dior was the most important house in Paris (in economic terms) at this time with everyone watching his line for leadership. However, experts could detect differences which were carefully monitored (Source).
Source: 1stDibs.com
1950s Christian Dior New York black faille dress. A stunning dress, iconic and distinctly Dior!
Source: Etsy
Christian Dior vintage 1950’s red rose removable capelet dress (avail as of Jan 25th, 2020).
Source: Etsy
Vintage 1950’s Couture Christian Dior Dress & Jacket. Made in the most sumptuous twill silk, in a bold mustard yellow floral pattern on an near white background, a rare addition to your vintage wardrobe.
Source: Etsy
Christian Dior Demi Couture Gold Silk Evening Dress With Detachable Shawl, 1950s.
Source: Etsy
Vintage Wedding Dress Alert (stand out on your wedding day)! Vintage Christian Dior 1950’s Wedding Dress, Silk Brocade with full skirt.
Source: Etsy
Couture Dior 1950s Silk Taffeta and Lace Ballgown.
Source: 1stdibs
More vintage Dior dresses…..
1950s Christian Dior Dress / 50s Navy Blue Lace New look Dress.
Source: Etsy
This is an incredible numbered Christian Dior from the 1950s.
Source: 1stdibs
Christian Dior 1956 haute couture numbered off white silk Femme Fleur look ball gown Wedding Made in France. Here is the dress and the image from a promotional ad (I love when you find the matching original image).
Source: Etsy
Source: Etsy
1950s Christian Dior Haute Couture Dress – 1959.
This is a rare Christian Dior Haute Couture dress by Yves Saint Laurent dating from automne-hiver 1959. While the silhouette is that of a simple cocktail dress, the construction and intricate pleating are impressively elaborate.
The jacket bears the Colifichets label which is quite meaningful, as it indicates that the set was part of the collection sold in the Colifichet boutique at the the Galerie Dior couture house at 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris, during the years that Christian Dior was alive and director of the house (source).
I also HIGHLY recommend checking out the movie “Mrs. Harris goes to Paris“. An enchanting tale of a seemingly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris. The movie was MAGICAL! I would watch it again and again. Here is the trailer….
I hope you enjoyed the beauty that is early Dior. I know I just loved putting this post together (gorgeous fashions).
Question Time: Do you have a favorite outfit featured above? If so share in the comments below!
