1950's Suzy Perette yellow polka dot dress

Source: True Vintage Fashion

Vintage Fashion Brand Spotlight

Brief History of Suzy Perette

First up Suzy Perette is NOT a real person, it’s a brand (as stated in the title).

Ushered into popularity by Dior in 1947, the fit and flared silhouette with long sweeping skirts, fitted waists, and rounded shoulders quickly became the new feminine standard.

Thanks to a very special arrangement between Sidney Blauner, the owner of the Suzy Perette label, and the house of Christian Dior, the coveted Parisienne designs that were once daydreams, became available to American women under name Suzy Perette.

The styles Perette is known for such as the fitted waist and flared skirt, the slim sheath or “wiggle” silhouette, and classic shirt and day dresses are now American classics. Since the brand stretched decades from the late 1940’s to the early 1970’s, the collection has also encompassed mid century shifts and a little bohemian flare.

A popular designer for the Suzy Perette Company was Victor Costa who worked for the company from 1965 to 1973.

The Suzy Perette legacy has been carried on by vintage enthusiasts worldwide and the iconic Perette designs remain in high demand to this day (Source).

1950s Suzy Perette label from a 1950s dress

Source: Etsy

Now that you know WHO the brand is, let’s check out some fun vintage fashion advertising and of course real life examples of the clothing (that you could purchase at time of posting).

Updated February 2024

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.

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.

The Vintage Advertising & Vintage Fashion Examples

“The Perette Silhouette”. A 1953 Russeks print ad showcasing that Dior look that was made available to women everywhere thru the Suzy Perette brand.

1950s Fashion: 1953 Russeks PRINT AD "The Perette Silhouette" Fashion Design Dress

Source: Pinterest

Here is another ad from 1953, showing off that “Perette Silhouette”. Big fan of this dress!

1950s fashion ad for Suzy Perette 1953 featuring a 1950s dress

Source: Flickr

Vintage 1950s Sundress. Constructed in a Beautiful Shade of Mint Green Silky Satin Fabric with Floral White & Yellow Daisy Prints and a Full Circle Swing Skirt.

Vintage 1950s Sundress by Iconic Designer "Suzy Perette".Constructed in a Beautiful Shade of Mint Green Silky Satin Fabric with Floral White & Yellow Daisy Prints and a Full Circle Swing Skirt.

Source: Etsy

Spectacular creme colored soft silk 1950s cocktail dress by Suzy Perette. Truly perfect for a vintage wedding as well.

1950s Fashion: Spectacular creme colored soft silk 1950s cocktail dress by Suzy Perette. Perfect for a vintage wedding.

Source: Etsy – thesweetlifevintage

Get ready for the Christmas / Holiday season with this fantastic 1950’s Suzy Perette New York plaid new look full skirt dress with ball fringe.

vintage 1950's dress ...new look Suzy Perette new look plaid full skirt dress with ball fringe

Source: Etsy

Oh la la! How dreamy is this dress from a 1956 Best & Co fashion ad? Love it!

1950s vintage fashion ad for Suzy Perette featuring a 1950s dress 1956

Source: Pinterest

1960s Suzy Perette Red Lace Dress, perfect for your vintage holiday party this upcoming season.

1960s Suzy Perette Red Lace Dress vintage holiday party dress

Source: Etsy

1955 DuPont ad featuring a party dress by Suzy Perette.

Party dress by Suzy Perette, DuPont ad, 1955. 1950s fashion ad.

Source: Pinterest

Beautiful vintage 1950’s party dress by Suzy Perette New York. Light gold dress is embroidered with ivory flowers and swirls.

Source: Etsy

“it’s a suit! it’s a dress! it’s by Suzy Perette!”. 1950s mail order dress ad featuring a really flattery rayon two-piece suit dress. LOVE THIS!

1950s vintage ad 1950s fashion ad for Suzy Perette dresses

Source: Pinterest

Drool! This is a beauty! 1950’s Suzy Perette green with contrasting vertical stripes brocade dress.

vintage 1950's Suzy Perette green with contrasting vertical stripes brocade dress

Source: Etsy

The coat-dress of the season!

1950s fashion ad for Suzy Perette fashions featuring a 1950s dress

Source: Pinterest

How adorable is this 1950s Suzy Perette Pink Gingham Dress? Too cute for words!

1950s Fashion: 1950s Suzy Perette Pink Gingham Dress

Source: Etsy

“Obviously….it’s a Suzy Perette….for you” (yes please!). 1955 fashion ad.

1950s fashion ad for a Suzy Perette dress. Stunning 1950s fashion

Source: Flickerriver.com

1950s Suzy Perette Fit & Flare Party Dress in the most stunning of purples! (avail HERE as of Feb 2024).

1950s Suzy Perette Fit & Flare Party Dress rare true vintage

Source: eBay

“Surprise her at dinner!….” A 1958 vintage fashion ad.

1950s fashion ad for Suzy Perette 1958 featuring a 1950s dress

Source: Pinterest

If I could squeeze myself into this dress, I would! A 1960’s ‘Suzy Perette’ Floral Paisley Brocade, Fur Collar Sleeveless Sheath Dress.

Source: Etsy

A curve hugging, glamorous Suzy-Perette look from 1956.

Source: Pinterest

1950s Suzy Perette Teal Floral Party Dress (avail Feb 2024).

1950s Fashion: 1950s Suzy Perette Teal Floral Party Dress

Source: Etsy

“Suzy Perette wears Silk”. 1960s fashion ad.

Source: eBay

1960s silk dress by Suzy Perette featuring a brilliant floral print, fitted waist and tulip skirt.

1960s Fashion: Brilliant silk floral 1960s dress by Suzy Perette.

Source: Etsy

Vintage Shopping for a Suzy Perette Dresses…There must of be a lot of these outfits made because when I started searching for examples online to share with all of you, there was so many to chose from! So if any of the above are sold out at time of finding this post, don’t fret!

Head over to Etsy (I created a Suzy collection), eBay or your other fav online vintage stores and I’m sure you will score yourself a lovely Suzy Perette original!

OH and I want to leave you with a dress that while it was from the 1970s reminds so much of a 1930s dress you would wear to the beach.

1970s gorgeous slim maxi dress with low back and adorable collar and bow at the neck! 1970s Suzy Perette Dress in a 1930s style

Hope you enjoyed this post. Share in the comments section what your favourite look was? Or if you own your own Suzy Perette please tell me all about it.

Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Further Reading:

Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
Vintage Fashion Designers 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz

1950s Back to School Image of 2 boys with backpacks image via Getty Images

First up sorry for the radio silence lately, my husband and I purchased a house (a rental property to be exact) and we have been super busy working away on getting it ready for rental. This meant I had ZERO time for things on the internet (like my little old blog). BUT I’m back and I’m kicking off the first blog post of September with a roundup of all things to do with school, of course with my regular vintage spin.

Lets begin!

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.

Back To School We Go! Roundup of All Things “School”

1940s, 1950’s and 1960s

1940s Vintage Advertisement: 1947 Fresh Up with Seven Up Ad - 1940s Teenagers, Football Hero, Cheerleaders - Retro 7up Ad — 1947 7up Ad. Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage Photo of two men and 1 women in 1940s fashions posing together for a photo at Harris College, May 1943.

Further Reading: Vintage Student Life Photo 1920s-1950s

Rah Rah Go Happy! Adorable 1960’s Vintage Cheerleading Uniform from “Happy High School located in Happy, Texas – Home of the Cowboys”.

While Researching this post I stumbled upon a most amazing resource! North Carolina has a website where they have a collection of yearbooks from schools all over their state. Um COOL!!!

The collection was started because yearbooks provide a window into student life in North Carolina from the 1890s to the present. From sports teams to clubs, fashions to hairstyles, these volumes document the changing attitudes and culture of students year by year.

Here are some of the amazing photos that you can see on their site (stay tuned for a future “Vintage Photo Tuesday” Post).

Photo # 1: Home Economics Class, Durham High School, 1947.

Further Reading: Vintage Yearbooks (archived blog posts)

1940s Vintage Photo: Home Economics Class, Durham High School, 1947 — Source: North Carolina Digital Heritage Centre

Photo # 2: Cheerleaders, E.E. Smith Senior High School, 1948.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Cheerleaders

1940s Vintage Photo: Cheerleaders, E.E. Smith Senior High School, 1948 Vintage Yearbook photos — Source: North Carolina Digital Heritage Centre

1950’s “Kids Back to School Fashion” being showcased at the Zoo.

Retro 1950’s Style School Girl Paper Doll Printable. You can buy this right now on Etsy and it’s just too cute!!!

Retro 1950's Style School Black Girl Paper Doll Printable

Source: Etsy

Prom Queen, date night and life in Highschool in the 1950s. Cool collection of photos of teenage life.

Vintage Photos of Teenage Life in the 1950s Backt to school Photos — Source: Etsy

Zayre Commercial “Before you go back to school” circa 1960s.

September 14, 1953. This black, white and red ad features “Little Lulu” comic strip characters touting the qualities of Kleenex. The ad has a head shot of Arthur Godfrey, host of a CBS daytime radio and TV program, with a quote bubble around the tagline: “It’s ‘Kleenex Tissue Time’ with school days here again!” (Via Etsy)

Vintage Kleenex Tissues Ad, It's Kleenex Tissue Time, Little Lulu by Marge Comics, Back to School, Original Advertising, 1953

Flair Magazine 1950 College Review Issue.

About the College Review (Via Etsy Seller ‘Betsyoldandnew‘).

The Flair Magazine August 1950 College Review Issue was one of only eleven issues of the magazine ever published as its lavish productions costs proved too great for it to continue. Editor Fleur Cowles, wife of publisher Gardener Cowles, was allowed to spare no expense in putting out her dream magazine, that was totally unique for its time, in which she would highlight her feature stories having considered “If a feature would be better in dimension than on flat pages, why not fold half-pages inside double-page spreads? If a feature was significant enough, why not bind it as ‘a little book’… giving it a special focus? If a feature was better ‘translated’ on textured paper, why use shiny paper? If a hand-set offset printing or hand-fed gravure suited a photographic essay better than letterpress, why not use it?”

Vintage Howdy Doody Time Teacher, 1950s Teaching Aid.

1969 Kids Vintage Fashion Ad Back to School Clothes at Montgomery Wards.

Hope you enjoyed a trip down back to school lane, have a wonderful week everyone!

Question time: What is your favourite memory from school? Share in the comments below.

Further Reading:

Vintage Advertising 1920s – 1960s (archived blog post)
Vintage Back to School posts

Liz

Tag: 1960s fashion