A Few Unmentionables for Christmas - 1960

A few more images from the 1960 Florida Fashions Catalog. Here are some lovely lingerie and frilly things to brighten the holidays!

What to wear to the Christmas Party - 1960 Florida Fashions Inc.

This is a terrific catalog from Florida Fashions with lots of glamorous holiday choices from 1960. You just know that the Mad Men era was in full swing, that's a Joan Holloway look-a-like on the cover. But if you want to look just right at the company cocktail party you need to order soon, but they do offer "New Jet Air Super Service".

I wasn't able to find out much about this company, but this particular one was mailed to a Miss Elise in California, so they must have been nationwide. After all Florida Fashion Inc. "Brings Florida Glamour To You!"

Actually I always enjoy these sorts of catalogs because this is what women really wore and bought for their families. My mom (or your grandma) would have ordered from these exact sorts of catalogs and paid these prices. They could "Look like a Million! - for little money".

Choose the Bold Look of Black and White - 1960

We have more of our Joan Holloway look-alike, this time with her friends from the 1960 Spring Vogue Pattern Book. This article teaches us "how to be a fashion extrovert...choose the bold look of black and white".
These illustrations are done by 'Larson', probably Esther Larson. If anybody knows more about her please share.
Now let's see what the extroverts were wearing in 1960!

Here, and on the next five pages, a decisive change of pace for now-into-summer dressing . . . scarf-print, domino dots, abstract florals, staccato plaids . . . more dashing than ever in the stark contrast of black and white!

Left, 9970: excitement that starts with black and white, builds momentum by the use of black-bordered scarves-by-the-yard. This is further accented by the voluminous belled skirt of the two-piece dress and the wide sleeves that curve outward. "Easy to Make," 10 to 16.

Opposite, 9950: more of the same sleeve shape, this time funneling into a slim skirt. This is a prime example of the positive approach to fashion . . . so pretty, we've shown it on the cover, too! Sizes 10 to 18. Maxwell's silk surah scarf-fabric harlequin-printed squares. For an extra accent, black silk binding was added around the neck, sleeves. Wide belt, Midtown; Marvella "pearls.

This page, 4100: a shaft of Glen plaid silk surah, perfect with accessories in a town-ish mood,especially this "lampshade" hat in Milan straw. The immaculate whiteness of the jacket is further accentuated by bands of heavy black braid. Ensemble in sizes 10 to 20.

Right, 9954: a sleeveless dress with a billowy skirt, the back prophetically bared and topped with a well-sleeved jacket. Sizes 10 to 18. This more-black-than-white look goes effortlessly into town and country evenings. The final touch-stark white baroque "pearls" circlida the throat.

Opposite, 9947: probably the most dashingly feminine way to look at home since the age of the tea gown, these conversation-piece culotte-pajamas in soft, fluid silk, imprinted with newsy freeform circles. Here, sashed in ebony silk, jacketed in charcoal. In sizes 10 to 18.

Right, 9895: hothouse flowers that could only grow on silk, printed in crisp black-on-white and blooming here on floor-length at-home separates. The collar, a graceful sweep of more flowers, tucked, face-flattering. The cummerbund wraps a waistline to slender stem width. Sizes 10 to 16.

Joan Holloway Look-a-Like!

When I saw this cover I stopped in my tracks...it's Joan Holloway! Well, it isn't, but wow, she's a dead ringer. Actually this Vogue Pattern Book is from the spring of 1960, a few years before Mad Men, but I figure Joan had a few things in her closet. Like this Vogue pattern 9950, "A dress with the newest silhouette this spring - the cornucopia sleeve. Black-and-white silk surah by Maxwell; Midtown patent belt. Marvella earrings."

We don't have the models name, but the photographer is Carmine Schiavone, who was a very famous photographer of many models. I'm quite sure Joan Holloway would have been a fan!