Wednesday 31 March 2010


From the 1 October, 1956 Vogue- New Coat Handbook: Day and Evening Coverage.

'A summary of fashion news: black-and-white tweed suit suddenly deep in new elegance - long-maned, silky fur collar, a great garland of black-dyed fox. The suit 'coat' is just that - more important, more substantial than a jacket. Suit, by Ben Zuckerman, in Anglo wool tweed. Henri Bendel; Julius Garfinckel; Marshall Field; I. Magnin. Side-draped black beaver felt turban by Sally Victor. Gold-and-diamond jewellery by Schlumberger of Tiffany.'

Thursday 18 March 2010









This Ben Zuckerman coat has a most unusual feature- a pleated design on the back. This feature is subtle but catches the eye all the same and was typical of Zuckerman- his designs were always well tailored rather than flashy.

This coat is likely a heavy silk-wool blend with a slight sheen. The buttons are fantastic, as seen in the close up- they are substantial and heavy.

The coat was sold at Bonwit Teller.

Photos courtesy of Favoritestuff4u

Wednesday 3 March 2010

From the 16 February 1958 Sunday Herald- Zuckerman Introduces Gay Colours into Spring Suits.

'Picking a Ben Zuckerman suit or coat this spring will be like picking flowers in a riotous garden. The brilliant colours of Zuckerman's loose woven, big patterned tweeds, sleek worsted or silk tweeds run from dazzling white and rich cream through to reds, corals, yellows, blues, greens, violets to French grey and black.

In suits the line is lean and narrow, without contour seaming, but cut so masterfully that the grain of the fabric moves with the figure. There is usually a line or break at the hip, often in the form of a belt or low pockets.

Jackets have many varieties- some are belted low, others are cropped short and gathered into a yoke and some hang open and boxy with flashes of the floral silk lining. Most jackets have slightly sloping shoulders and interesting necklines.

Coats seem to focus the attention near the armholes where flare or rounded-out smoothness begins, and again at the very low hipline where belts or huge pockets are placed.

The above town suit is in imported gold pique worsted. The jacket has a soft shawl collar and decorative buttons, and the skirt features welted seams.


Monday 1 March 2010









A fantastic Ben Zuckerman suit in a pale pink- truly outstanding! This suit, which probably dates to the early 1960's, is a heavy, thick wool and is tailored to perfection. It features a matching blouse.

An interesting picture is the close up of how the sleeves are set- all done by hand and not on a sewing machine. Also seen are the bound button holes, something seen only in high quality garments.

Sadly, at some point the buttons have been removed, but I would imagine that like all Ben Zuckermans they were of the highest quality and probably quite substantial.

The suit was sold at I Magnin, the wonderful department store that was so fancy 'the bargain basement was on the 6th floor!'

Photos courtesy of mama.jeanne








A lovely Ben Zuckerman coat in black wool with a black velvet collar. The coat is loosely fitted with batwing sleeves. There are semi-belts on each side of the coat at waist level, and these belts are also made of velvet.

This beautiful coat was sold at Garfinkels, the well known Washington, DC department store, now sadly defunct.

Photos courtesy of  Queenfabiola.