Tuesday 21 December 2010






A pretty tweed jacket, once part of a suit. This jacket is trimmed in high quality black velvet at the collar and features two really lovely buttons made up of embroidery thread.

Photos courtesy of ChicagoLuxe.


An undated Zuckerman suit- probably from the early 1950's. The suit is very fitted and is in a pale brocade edged in what is probably satin in the same colour. The neckline is very interesting, the trim from the bodice flows into the collar. The sleeves are bracelet length which is very typical of this era.
This suit is accessorised with feminine jewelry, gloves and a wonderful 'cartwheel' hat in what appears to be the same satin material as the trim on the suit.



This is a Ben Zuckerman ensemble,dating from the 1960's and retailed at the famous New York Store, Saks Fifth Avenue. My guess is that it would have cost in the region of $500 which represents a significant investment, and priced it out of the range of most women of the time.
The jacket is boxy in cut, has two pockets at the hip, and is trimmed in Chinchilla fur. The buttons are large and are covered in embroidery thread. The matching dress is sleeveless and fitted and has the same buttons as the jacket, but in a slightly smaller size. The quality of this ensemble is top notch.
Photos courtesy of NelsonBridge.






A wonderful Zuckerman- in brilliant red! This coat is classic 1950's, with a very full 'skirt', perfect for covering crinoline skirts underneath. The coat also features a tie at the neck, which is a nice, feminine detail.
In the final photo, you can see a close-up of the button, which are a great decorative feature.
Photos courtesy of DaisyDuds .




Friday 10 December 2010











This is one of the most interesting dresses I've seen. It is attibuted to Ben Zuckerman- the dress was sewn by a home seamstress from a pattern designed by Zuckerman. I believe this to be true, as there are design features that I have seen in other Ben Zuckerman outfits, particularly the decorative seam running down the front of the bodice of the dress. The dress is very well sewn and the buttons on the sleeve are the same high quality as other Ben Zuckerman outfits.
This dress was worn by Bonnie Blair, an actress from the 1940's who appeared in movies such as 'Badman's Territory', 'Riff Raff' and 'The Woman on the Beach'. Ms Blair is 94 and now lives in Florida.
Photos courtesy of Bubsieville.














What a great Ben Zuckerman! This ensemble is made up of a pretty dress and jacket in black brocade. The jacket has princess seams and closes with a single large decorative button. The dress has a satin bow around the waist.
The material is brocade which is the quintessential 1960's evening material. This outfit would have been worn for cocktail parties or the like.
Photos courtesy of WateryTart

This is a really pretty brown velvet Zuckerman coat trimmed in brown satin. The coat was probably part of an ensemble, with a dress in a co-ordinating colour. Brown velvet is not the typical colour you might see in velvet ( this would likely be black) which makes this coat a bit unusual and special.

Photo courtesy of Designerdigs4u

Thursday 2 December 2010


An ad for a Zuckerman suit, circa 1956. The jacket is quite long, to mid thigh, which is a rather unusual length for the times. It features curved pockets at the hips and a large fur trim, probably fox. Ths skirt is also long and very form fitting.
This suit was modelled by Sunny Harnett. She was born Anne Marie Hartnett in 1924 in New York. She was one of the top models of the 1950's. After retiring she went to work for the famous modelling agency Ford as Eileen Ford's assistant.
Anglo Fabrics was a very high quality fabric mill, used by top American designers. Sadly it closed after 52 years in business in 1998.

Wednesday 1 December 2010
















This Zuckerman jacket, once part of a suit, has a vaguely military air to it. The jacket is double breasted, and has large, decorative buttons. It is boxy in cut with pockets at the hip. The material of the jacket is a substantial, heavy wool. As is the case with many other Zuckermans, the sleeve length is three-quarter, all the better to show off bracelets. I believe this jacket dates to the late 1960's.
Photos courtesy of Iconic Vintage Shop.

Sunday 28 November 2010







In honour of winter arriving in full force, we have a wonderfully warm wool coat in fuscia, trimmed in black. The coat is double breasted and has chunky round buttons. You can also see some of the seaming around the neck and collar.
The coat also has fantastic huge pockets that have 'cuffs' as an added touch.
I believe this coat dates to the late 1960's, toward the end of Ben Zuckerman's career.
Photos courtesy of gimmeNICOLE

Wednesday 17 November 2010








A really pretty petrol blue Ben Zuckerman jacket, probably once part of a skirt suit. The jacket is trimmed at the collar and cuffs with Persian lamb and has a half belt on the rear of the jacket.
The jacket is boxy in cut, and I believe it dates to the mid 1960's, based on the cut and the label.
The jacket has large domed buttons covered with silk thread, and interestingly I have several other jackets and suits that feature the same buttons.
Photos courtesy of Shasta's Vintage

Sunday 31 October 2010










This is a truly fantastic Zuckerman coat in cream wool trimmed with fox fur dating to the mid 1960's.

The coat has two patch pockets and the fur trim runs the full length of the coat. There is also a Saks 5th Avenue label, the store where this super coat was sold.
This coat would have been a serious investment when sold new, my estimate would have been in the $600 range at the time, which represented 10% of the average American salary in the mid 1960's.

Photos courtesy of Chatsnoire

Friday 15 October 2010













Here is a lovely late 1950's-early 60's suit in a subtle plaid accented with a velvet collar that matches the pink in the plaid.

This suit is reminiscent of Chanel, and while the design is simple it is very flattering. It has pockets on the jacket and is single breasted.

Photos courtesy of Myfabulouscloset.

Tuesday 12 October 2010







A wonderful mid 1950's Zuckerman suit in grey with pinstripes.

The jacket is double breasted and nipped at the waist, and there is padding at the hip to accentuate the smallness of the waist and the fullness of the hips. There are two 'hidden' pockets at the hip that are highlighted by contrasting the direction of the pinstripes, creating a herringbone design.

The skirt is straight and long with a slit at the back to aid in walking.
This suit takes a masculine idea- the pinstripes and turns it into a super-feminine masterpiece.

Photos courtesy of NorthStar Vintage.






















This is a lovely jacket, once part of a suit, in a metallic bronze with coppery threads throughout. It is lined in light bronze taffeta.

The jacket is very nipped at the waist and therefore probably dates to the early 1950's. It buttons to the neck with buttons covered in matching fabric. The collar is small and feminine, as are the three-quarter length sleeves with small cuffs.

There are crescent shaped pockets on each hip.

I have no doubt that this suit was worn as a 'theatre' or 'opera' suit- a suit that is more dressy, either in design or material or both, that would have been suitable for wearing to evening events.

Photos courtesy of sak41796.