Friday 22 January 2010








Here we have a really lovely boucle wool suit in emerald green by Ben Zuckerman. This suit probably dates from the mid to late 1950's and is wonderfully tailored, as seen in the close up shots of the jacket. It also features heavy green buttons that match the green of the suit's material.

This suit was sold at De Pinna's, the high end New York department store that closed in 1969. De Pinna's were known for their finely tailored clothing for men and women, and this Zuckerman suit would have been a perfect fit in the store.

Photos courtesy of Mustang Annees Vintage Clothing.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

From the 15 August, 1963 Vogue- 

'One of the most heavenly suit-moves anyone could ever make now, tweed in a mottled mix of smoky blue and turquoise worn with a Coogan cap of the same. The suit lines, beautifully simple cuts and seams; the blouse, turquoise wool jersey. Suit by Ben Zuckerman of Litex wool tweed.'

In December 1963 this suit was the feature of an article in the LA Times by Eugenia Sheppard- 'When Does Fashion Become a Uniform'. The most popular uniforms of fall 1963 were pastel tweed suits for day and evening suits in white brocade for night. Also popular were long evening dresses with little beaded sweaters.

The most popular suit was Ben Zuckerman's sky blue tweed that was featured on the above cover. The ensemble was a 'bombshell', as dozens of women ordered it complete, including the hat by Adolfo. Zuckerman himself had lost count of how many he  had made. The suit itself was not cheap at $350 but that did not stop it from flying out of the stores.


From the 15 August, 1963 Vogue- an ad for I Magnin featuring 2 lovely Ben Zuckerman ensembles.

'The light look for fall.... airy tweed, oyster white woven with pearl grey, in a three piece suit or jacketed dress, both softened with pearl white satin, designed by Ben Zuckerman exclusively for I Magnin.'


From the 15 August, 1963 Vogue- 'Velvet in the blaze that's know as klieg'

'Velvet and chinchilla, an evening coat to the ground worn over the simplest princesse shell of a dress-no sleeves, dipped neckline. By Ben Zuckerman in French rayon velvet with collar and cuffs of Empress chinchilla.'

Marianne Moore, the famous American poet, loved Ben Zuckerman. 'He is perfection, his workmanship-the buttonholes-needlework on linings- makes me think of some of the masterpieces in the Worth collection at the Brooklyn Museum.'

Saturday 16 January 2010





A new Zuckerman coat- this one in taupe wool with black persian lamb trim at the neck and cuffs. It features heavy corded buttons and is double breasted. 

This coat was sold at Bonwit Teller, the famous New York department store, opened in 1895 and closed in the 1980's.

Photos courtesy of akeller318

Friday 15 January 2010







My new Zuckerman- a really lovely coral boucle jacket, probably once pared with a skirt. I would date this to the late 1950's.

This jacket was sold at I Magnin- the San Fransisco based department store which opened in 1876. The store was famous for being very exclusive and it was often said "It was so fancy, the bargain basement was on the 6th floor!" There were numerous I Magnins located around California. Sadly the last one closed in 1994.

Photos courtesy of Jumblelaya

Sunday 3 January 2010


From the cover of the December, 1956 Harper's Bazaar.

Suzy Parker, wearing an ivory fleece burnoose style coat by Ben Zuckerman. A burnoose is a hooded coat or cloak worn especially by Arabs and Berbers.