vintage 1940's dress ...exquisite Dorothy O'Hara black origami dress

*this dress is "inky" black. reddish cast in photos is due to poor lighting and/or exposure :(

vintage 1940's dress ...exquisite Dorothy O'Hara black satin and crepe origami dress

Designer to the stars, Dorothy O’Hara designed for both Hollywood studios (Paramount) and the Fashion Forecast company she shared with her husband.  Much to their advantage, they marketed her as “the only designer-manufacturer in the film world, with a contract permitting her to create styles for her own firm… as well as for the nation’s leading stars.” 

Much like Ceil Chapman during the same era, Dorothy O’Hara dresses were known to flatter a woman’s figure with expert draping; in fact, she was known as the “Sculptress in Fabric.”  She was part of the “California Fashion Creators” which included James Galanos, Edith Small, Tabak, Charles Cooper and more. 

It wasn’t long before her designs became synonymous with “sexy.” A 1957 ad seemed to sum it up with “Makes women look nice and men look twice.”

For more information on this iconic designer of the 1940’s and 1950’s, you can click on the following links to excellent resources:

No Accounting for Taste

Pintuck Style

Vintage Fashion Guild

DETAILS

• dramatic forties silhouette with strong shoulders, nipped waist, and slim skirt
• decadent black satin origami folds through her bodice create a subtle contrast to the black rayon crepe throughout the rest of this design
• fabulous center arrow swag, positioned between two single pleats, give depth and length to her slim skirt
• center front kick pleat under the swag
• petite metal zippers finish her eye catching dolman sleeves
• back metal zipper

MEASUREMENTS:

Measurements given are ''actual'' measurements of the item taken from the outside of the garment. Please consider your individual comfort and compare measurements accordingly. For more information regarding our sizing, or measurement process please review our

SIZE & MEASUREMENT GUIDES

bust-34", waist-to 25", hips-36-38" (a little bit of play due to the pleats), length-47"

CONDITION:

excellent.  as with many designs from this era, her original shoulder pads are missing because they were often removed prior to dry cleaning (as you should still do today), or they were removed over the years because they tended to disintegrate, or get lumpy etc.  if you enjoy wearing fashions from this era, you can purchase some versatile styles on etsy, or your local craft/sewing store that easily attach to your bra straps. the ones used here for display are not included.  

We are happy to provide a layaway service to our customers. If interested, please review our LAYAWAY TERMS & INSTRUCTIONS .

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