1950s couture Hattie Carnegie Custom Made cocktail dress

Description

[belt not included] Couture Hattie Carnegie ‘custom’ label two-piece cocktail dress. The Custom salon was where original Paris designs were interpreted for her American clientele. Black silk taffeta fabric bustier with a gorgeous overlay of white knit lace. There are shoulder straps that we tucked in for the photos because they were added to the dress, but the straps are there as an option. Double zipper and snap closure up the side. Bustier is two layers and highly constructed, designed with boning and a selvage that tucks into the skirt like early Dior dresses. Skirt is awesome. Tucked pleats wrapped on a diagonal in balloon style with puffed fabric at the sides. The diagonal pleats run toward and under an overlap from the right side skirt (see photos). The back opening is a hook/eye snap closure that runs along the diagonal with the pleating, see-close-ups. Fully lined with a black silk.

label: “Hattie Carnegie Custom Made” on both the skirt and top

condition: excellent for age. Pleating is not perfectly pressed and may need a touch up. The lace is unraveling along the bottom edges where the top tucks into the skirt, but not visible while wearing.

measurements:
[flat]
bust: 32”/33″
skirt waist: 24 1/2” (bodice is around 26” and possibly skirt can be let out)
hip: —
top length down front: 13”
top length down side: 12”
skirt length: @29”