616 research outputs found
Adele Simpson Oral History (part 2)
No full textDesigner, Adele Simpson, interviewed by Phyllis FeldkampThe interview covers Simpson's childhood and early interest in sewing and fashion design. Discussion topics include her start at Ben Gershel, her work with William Bass, and her eventual role as head designer for Mary Lee Frocks. Conducted in 1978, the conversation provides information on the importance of Manhattan's Seventh Avenue within the fashion industry. Simpson also discusses her advice column, "Adele Simpson Says," which ran in The New Yorker in the 1960s. An avid traveler, Simpson repeatedly discusses smart preparation for a trip (especially in terms of packing) and how to experience a foreign place. Simpson's family life comes up several times in the interview, providing contextual information on the life of working mothers, specifically in the fashion industry in the mid-twentieth century.Adele Simpson was born Adele Smithline in New York City, December 28th, 1904 and died in Greenwich, Connecticut in August, 1995. One of the founders of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Simpson was an American fashion designer specializing in women's ready-to-wear ensembles. Her designs were conservative and comfortable adaptations of the mode of the time, earning Simpson a Coty award in 1947. Simpson had a special interest in textiles and frequently used cotton as well as sumptuos textiles inspired by her travels. Her main clientele was the busy modern woman who cared about style. Simpson also designed for four of the American first ladies, Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Eisenhower, Mrs. Carter, and Mrs. Johnson. At the time of this interview, Simpson had just donated her "Simpsonian Institute" collection of fashion magazines, inspirational artifacts, and garments from seasons past to the Fashion Institute of Technology. The interview was conducted at a time when Simpson's company was producing 30,000 garments annually which were then carried in approximately 450 stores, according to Ms. Simpson. No longer the head designer of the Adele Simpson clothing line in 1978, Simpson continued to oversee the overall design process, eventually passing the company on to her daughter and son-in-law. This interview was conducted by Phyllis Feldkamp, a prominent fashion writer and editor
Adele Simpson Oral History (part 1)
No full textDesigner, Adele Simpson, interviewed by Phyllis FeldkampThe interview covers Simpson's childhood and early interest in sewing and fashion design. Discussion topics include her start at Ben Gershel, her work with William Bass, and her eventual role as head designer for Mary Lee Frocks. Conducted in 1978, the conversation provides information on the importance of Manhattan's Seventh Avenue within the fashion industry. Simpson also discusses her advice column, "Adele Simpson Says," which ran in The New Yorker in the 1960s. An avid traveler, Simpson repeatedly discusses smart preparation for a trip (especially in terms of packing) and how to experience a foreign place. Simpson's family life comes up several times in the interview, providing contextual information on the life of working mothers, specifically in the fashion industry in the mid-twentieth century.Adele Simpson was born Adele Smithline in New York City, December 28th, 1904 and died in Greenwich, Connecticut in August, 1995. One of the founders of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Simpson was an American fashion designer specializing in women's ready-to-wear ensembles. Her designs were conservative and comfortable adaptations of the mode of the time, earning Simpson a Coty award in 1947. Simpson had a special interest in textiles and frequently used cotton as well as sumptuos textiles inspired by her travels. Her main clientele was the busy modern woman who cared about style. Simpson also designed for four of the American first ladies, Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Eisenhower, Mrs. Carter, and Mrs. Johnson. At the time of this interview, Simpson had just donated her "Simpsonian Institute" collection of fashion magazines, inspirational artifacts, and garments from seasons past to the Fashion Institute of Technology. The interview was conducted at a time when Simpson's company was producing 30,000 garments annually which were then carried in approximately 450 stores, according to Ms. Simpson. No longer the head designer of the Adele Simpson clothing line in 1978, Simpson continued to oversee the overall design process, eventually passing the company on to her daughter and son-in-law. This interview was conducted by Phyllis Feldkamp, a prominent fashion writer and editor
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Dallas Museum of Fashion Collection
No full textDaytime dress of printed cotton lawn. Street-length of white cotton lawn is printed with stripes of grays and coral is sleeveless, with wide straps and V-neckline in front and back. The bodice is cut so that stripes are diagonal, meeting at center front and back and emphasizing the V-neckline. The narrow waist is slightly dropped, and is defined by a wide set-in decorative belt of the same fabric, with stripes running horizontally, with fabric-wrapped rectangular buckle and ends. The full skirt has stripes running vertically, and is gathered at the waist/bottom of the belt. There is one underskirt of cream faille, and a second of stiff cream netting. The center-back zipper closure extends from single hook-and-eye at neckline to base of belt. Bodice is partly lined with cream faille and has internal boning. There is a white grosgrain ribbon inner waistband with hook-and-eye closures.
Designer's label is sewn inside dress, to bodice lining at left side: "Adele Simpson".
This dress was a gift of the designer Adele Simpson and her husband Wesley Simpson to the Dallas Museum of Fashion, which later became the Texas Fashion Collection
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Jersey dress
No full textDress of black wool jersey knit with round neck. long sleeves. drop waist and flared skirt.
Designer label: Adele Simpson / New Yor
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Evening Ensemble - Coat, Dress, and Belt
No full textThree piece evening ensemble in metallic blue/purple, black and gold brocade consisting of:
A) Dressmaker style coat, calf-length. Closes on left with two covered snaps. Long, straight sleeves. Notched lapel. Lined in royal blue silk.
Designer's label at left inside seam: "Adele Simpson"
B) Dress. Calf-length, sleeveless, and with a standing collar, the dress is slightly A-line with empire seam. Center back zipper with two hook & loops at collar. Lined in royal blue silk.
C) Belt for dress, of same fabric and with rectangular buckle covered in same fabric.
Stamped "B Adele Simpson 10C3
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Harem Pants Ensemble
No full textHarem pants of geranium pink floral printed silk
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Cotton Award Winner
No full textEnsemble of lavender cotton chiffon chambray
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Dallas Museum of Fashion Collection
No full textA) Coat of light brown leather printed with dark brown "squiggles". Full-length, double-breasted, with two vertical rows of three each circular brown plastic buttons and hidden snaps at top. Long raglan sleeves. Two patch pockets on front with decorative flaps. Lined in light brown silk(?).
Designer's label at inside back collar: "Adele Simpson", with written annotation "1008".
B) Dress with matching scarf, of light tan jersey with printed dark brown "squiggles" matching the rest of ensemble. Mid-length, sheath style. Roll collar with slit through which scarf threads. Long sleeves with cuffs having two hidden snaps each. Center back zipper with hook-and-eye at top. Lined in peach silk crepe(?). With wide belt of leather matching the coat, the square buckle covered in same leather.
Designer's label at inside back on left: "Adele Simpson".
Stamped on reverse of belt: "Z 1095
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Study Collection, Westheimer Research Gallery
No full textDaytime ensemble of khaki green cotton twill consisting of:
A) Sun dress. Street-length, sleeveless, with deep rounded neckline. Skirt gathered into natural waist with attached narrow tie belt and bow of matching fabric. Center back zipper with hook & eye at back neckline and inner petersham of white grosgrain ribbon. Unlined.
Designer's label at left side seam: "Adele Simpson"
B) Cropped, bolero or shrug jacket of matching fabric. Embellished all-over with silver stitching "loops", the center of each loop having a circular paillette of reflective silver material. Single snap closure and single hook &loop at base of center front opening which crosses to fasten. Short sleeves. Deep V neckline in front. Lined in cream net.
Designer's label at center back neckline: "Adele Simpson
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Dinner dress
No full textA) Dinner dress of pink textured brocade in a floral motif, with scattered silver threads within the pattern. Knee-or slightly below length. Rounded neckline with bow at left side. Long sleeves.
Designer's label in lower part: "Adele Simpson"
Retailer's label at center back neckline: "Silver Key / Neiman-Marcus"
B) Wide black satin belt with rhinestone set rectangular buckle pave set with rhinestones
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