[This post is a continuation of a previous post about the early years of the Lilli Ann company.] By the…
I love California sportswear of the 1940s, and one of the most prominent labels was Graff Californiawear. It was the…
Mildred Orrick was born Mildred Boykin in West Virigina in 1906. Her father Richard was a preacher, and the family…
“Quiet Louella Ballerino has created a perfect furor down here. Everybody corners you to ask, ‘Have you seen Ballerino’s things?’…
[Author’s note: I initially wrote this post in January 2015, but I lost a lot of images when I switched…
In the late 1930s and early 40s, a popular silhouette for beach fashions was a slim torso flaring to a…
For a serious Hollywood designer, there is a surprising dearth of information about Don Loper. A lot of people know he…
A great deal has been written about the 20th century suit and coat label Lilli Ann, but I feel like not…
I love a good mystery. I love collecting clues, assembling narratives, and ultimately (hopefully) solving mysteries. When I bought this…
I find markets fascinating. I think it’s interesting how things become valuable and why, the cycles that trends and objects…