Vintage 40s Mocha Boucle Knit Sweater Skirt Suit

The rib knit radiates from the neckline creating a funnel type collar on this 40's boucle knit skirt suit.

1940s Strapless Dress and Bolero

A large oval pocket at the right side of this 1940's strapless dress has a teardrop opening at the center which is adorned with pink bow appliques.

Vintage Albert Nipon Knife Pleated Grecian Goddess Gown

A knife pleat is a type of sharply pressed pleating, in which all of the folds are turned in one direction.

1950s Sequined Print Dress

Sequins in matching colors accent the print of a 1950's Anne Starr fitted dress. The sequins are applied in swirls and squiggles to blend into the abstract floral print.

Vintage 50s Black Suede Springolators Shoes

Springolators are a patented design of a 50's mule. A hidden elasticised band in the sole holds the shoe firmly in place.

1960s Sequined Cocktail Dress

The sequined and embroidered designs on this 1960s silk cocktail dress are perfectly matched at the back zipper opening. This is a sign of high quality.

Vintage 60s Kamehameha Surplice Neckline Palazzo Pants Jumpsuit

Sleeveless surplice neckline with 3 small sewn tucks at the center bodice. Surplice is defined as having a diagonally overlapping neckline or closing.

1950s Cocktail Dress

A band of black Guipure lace is backed with white satin. It along with a band of black velvet ribbon curve under the bust on a 1950's cocktail dress. Guipure lace is made without a net background from heavy yarns. The motifs are joined with thread bridges.

1940s Black Corde' Handbag Purse

During the 1940's corde' handbags were created using rows of gimp in unique patterns stitched to a fabric background.

Vintage 1950s Mr. Blackwell Dress

Strands of rhinestones radiate from a rhinestone choker necklace to the neckline of this Mr. Blackwell cocktail dress. The rhinestone strands are attached to the neckline of the dress, so jewelry becomes trim. Mr. Blackwell died yesterday, October 19.2008, at age 86.

1950s Bubble Hem Dress

The full skirt on a 1950s dress is gathered and sewn into a smaller band to form a bubble hem.

1950s Fanciful Fruits

Black velvet is sewn into three dimensional balls which are attached to a velvet bow creating a group of dangling cherries on a 1950's hat.

1940s Crestmoor Suit

A square rhinestone button sits within a band of self fabric trim at the shoulder of a 1940's suit by Crestmoor.

Vintage 50s Black Silk Chiffon Shelf Bust Full Skirt Dress

A 1950's silk chiffon dress has a knife pleated shelf bust and waistband. Sheer silk chiffon overlay at the bust creates a sleeveless and strapless look.

1960s Christian Dior New York Dress

Bands of fabric are slipped through a waistline tuck to simulate a bow on an early 60s Christian Dior New York silk dress.

Vintage 60s Pillow Tab Panties

A Pillow tab is a small swatch of satin fabric that covers the seam on a waistband to strengthen the elastic seam and to prevent chaffing. It is considered a sign of quality in vintage lingerie.

1940s Black Cocktail Dress

Black sequins form a butterfly design on the bodice of a 1940's cocktail dress. Sequins were very popular as decoration in the 40's, often worked in designs from nature.

Vintage 1960s Catherine Ogust for Penthouse Gallery Color Block Tunic Dress

Color blocking is defined as large blocks of a single color combined to make patterns, shapes or panels. The fabric can be printed or sewn together to create this effect.

1950s Full Skirted Dress

Corded pintucks go all the way around the waist to add fullness to the skirt on this 1950s dress. Cord is laid on the wrong side of the fabric, and the tuck is sewn to capture the cord inside and give it a 3 dimensional quality.

Vintage 50s Black Wool Felt Pleated Trim Hat

Accordion pleated trim is made by folding fabric alternately in and out creating projecting pleats. Pleating is typically used as a part of the design of a garment, with the purpose of adding controlled fullness or taking up excess fabric. Here it is used as a design element in the trim of a hat.

60s Red Evening Gown

Rather than darts from the side seam, the fullness needed for the bust comes from tucks extending down from the shoulder seam on this early 1960's evening gown.

Vintage 50s Women's Table Cut Navy Kid Suede Gloves

Pair of 1950s Table Cut leather Gloves. Table Cutting is a technique where the leather is cut into blanks, which are stretched to check their elastic properties and rejected if they do not meet stringent limits. Leather gloves not made using this process can end up baggy and uncomfortable.