Archive of 2022: Hot autumn outfit in style of 1944 with vintage jacket by "David Hayes" & eco-friendly handmade half hat

Hello again, the 1940s!

My new outfit stays true to the trends of that decade. 

In addition to two things from two high fashion designers: the American "David Hayes" and the Italian "Valentino", I show another creation of my friend-photographer Alexandrina Wasiliewa-Szylowska and me. 

Once again, this hat is fully crocheted from vintage cotton yarn according to a vintage crochet pattern. The hat is soft and without a frame, when folded it fits even in a small pocket! Besides to the fact that, despite its conciseness and apparent simplicity, it looks elegant on the head, the hat is once again true to the trends of ecology and sustainability.

 

Now let’s talk about brands.

My silk fitted short jacket, I date from the beginning of the "David Hayes" brand when he made his clothes for "Saks Fifth Avenue".

 

Even though "David Hayes" was quite famous and a luxury brand, not much is known about it. Very often, its creator David Michael Hayes is confused with the namesake sculptor, who was born in the same 1931, but died before the designer, in 2013.

 

David Hayes was born and raised in St. Louis but moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor and Broadway star. His singing voice and acting skills brought him to Paris, where he lived for 3 years. He nevertheless became a Broadway star, starring in several films and Broadway shows. 

However, while living in Paris, fashion has captured the heart of David Hayes. So when he returned to Los Angeles, he enrolled at the University of California, where he received a degree in fashion design. Then David Hayes got the position of lead designer for the label "DeGraff of California".

 

Within 7 years, he founded his own label in the early 1980s. His clothes were sold in all "Neiman Marcus" and "Saks Fifth Avenue" stores.

David Hayes said:

“…I like designing beautiful clothes. Suits and dresses that can be worn by both the young and mature woman. Age has nothing to do with my clothes for all they require is an attitude. I want my clothes to be able to go anywhere - to work, cocktails, dinner, theater, and the most formal of affairs…”

 

David Hayes has become the designer of Hollywood's biggest stars: Sisters Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Anne Jeffreys, Phyllis Diller and Barbara Rush. Even First Lady Nancy Reagan favored its classic cut and design aesthetic of "David Hayes". Clothes in addition to those listed above were sold by such luxury stores as “I. Magnin”, “Lord & Taylor” and the in New York’s “Martha boutique”.

I don't know if this brand still exists, but its creator died in 2019.

My silk blouse by "Valentino" may date from about late 1970s - early 1980s.

 

It all started when, in 1959, Valentino Garavani opened an atelier at Via Condotti, 11 in Rome. A few months later, the Italian designer held a show in this salon. Already in 1960, Valentino Garavani registered the "Valentino" brand. One of the first famous clients of the Fashion House was Elizabeth Taylor.

 

In 1962, in Florence, at the Palazzo Pitti, a show of "Valentino" was held under the name "Gotha". The collection included red outfits, which later became the hallmark of the brand.

As Valentino Garavani himself believes:

“…Red is the best colour. It suits any woman, you just need to remember that there are more than 30 different shades of red ... "

 

The work of Valentino Garavani received rave reviews. His clients were Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Marisa Berenson, Marella Agnelli, Farah Diba (Iranian Empress), Princess Margaret Rose and others.

 

In 1963, "Vogue" magazine published an article about the "Valentino" collections. In the same year, Jacqueline Kennedy ordered six black outfits from the Fashion House to wear during mourning for her husband John F. Kennedy.

In 1968, the famous "Valentino" collection was created under the name "Collezione Bianca". It featured outfits in white, cream, chalk, sand, ecru and beige (like my blouse!). But since psychedelic colours were popular during this period, the Valentino Garavani collection was called "colourless" in the fashion world. The fashion designer decorated the products with embroidery in the form of the letter “V” – the logo of the Fashion House. 

In the same year, Jacqueline Kennedy ordered a baked milk dress from "Collezione Bianca" for her marriage to the Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis. The upper part of the outfit had lace trim, the skirt was made of pleated fabric. After the wedding photos of Jacqueline graced the covers of numerous magazines, the name Valentino Garavani became known throughout the world.

 

This brand exists to this day, however, Valentino Garavani left the fashion house he created in 2008.

 

I am wearing:

• Real vintage cream with beige brush strokes print pure silk fitted short jacket by "David Hayes" for Saks Fifth Avenue”, made in USA, about 1980s
• Real vintage cream blouse with short sleeves and buttoned back by “Valentino” (Paris), made in Italy, about late 1970s – early 1980s
• Real vintage cream and white checkered cotton/silk/wool/linen/viscose blend below knee length straight sheath skirt, made in France, about 1970s-1980s
• Handcrochet cream pure cotton half hat with 3 cream crochet roses by Alexandrina Wasiliewa-Szylowska, idea by Dannais dde Daneann, end of 2020
• Real vintage cream with snake skin print leather over metal round buttons clip-on earrings, about 1940s
• Real vintage cream leather circles and glass beads necklace, about 1940s
• Cream satin with three roses decor handbag with metal silver toned chain handle, about 1990s-2010s
• Cream leather mid heel shoes, made in Spain, 2020s

 

I think I got an outfit in the style of vintage models from the “Vogue” magazine of 1944. It is wonderfully complemented by authentic jewellery of those times - leather clips and necklace, as well as a handmade half hat.

What do you think? Write your thoughts in the comments, I would be very interested to hear your opinion!