Vintage Mary McFadden Couture Light Blue Silk Coat
View Similar Items
Vintage Mary McFadden Couture Light Blue Silk Coat
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4/6 (US)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4266605652
Mary McFadden
Less could have been expected from a well-bred society girl like Mary McFadden, who stepped out of the safe confines of the haut monde to create iconic designs for evening dresses, jackets, skirts and other items inspired by ancient and ethnic cultures and traditions. Fashion, in fact, was not initially on her agenda.
“I fell into it backwards,” she told the New York Times in 1979.
Born in New York but raised on a cotton plantation in Memphis, Tennessee, McFadden spent a few months at the Traphagen School of Fashion in 1956 and moved on to study sociology and anthropology at Columbia University. Afterward, she spent a short period of time in public relations at Christian Dior during the early 1960s, but she was unsure exactly what would lie ahead for her. McFadden decided to relocate to South Africa with her first husband, who oversaw production of the De Beers mines. While there, she began to design her own clothing — tunics that featured African prints, made of silk she’d found in Madagascar — because she couldn’t find anything that suited her.
In 1970, following two divorces, McFadden returned to her native New York City and was offered a job as an editor at Vogue magazine. Her colleagues admired the sophisticated garments she made in South Africa and had been wearing to work, and the magazine staffers pleaded to feature her designs, which meant she’d need to go into business in order to make them available to readers. So, in 1973, McFadden took the jump, soon becoming known for refreshing kimono-shaped jackets and richly colored pleated dresses that evoke the freedom of a Greek chiton — a far cry from the dull routine office attire for working women at the time. A collection of jewelry followed, and in 1977, McFadden patented her “marii” fabric, a pleated synthetic charmeuse that fell “like liquid gold on the body, like Chinese silk.”
In 1976, McFadden won her first Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, and a few years later, she entered the Coty Award Hall of Fame. While her business shuttered in the early 2000s, the beloved designer’s timeless styles endure.
Shop vintage Mary McFadden day dresses, accessories and jewelry on 1stDibs today.
- 1960s Black and Yellow Flower Print Brocade CoatLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1960s Cocktail Coat in Yellow gold flower print in black brocade. Size: LargeCategory
1960s American Coats and Outerwear
- Rodarte Coat with OstrichBy RodarteLocated in Beverly Hills, CARodarte patent leather coat with ostrich feather trim. Coat is never worn with neiman marcus tag $25,300! Marked size 8Category
Early 2000s American Coats
$6,500 - 1970s Pauline Trigere vintage black and gold silk brocade coatBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Beverly Hills, CAThis vintage 1970s Pauline trigere light evening coat has a combination of black silk brocade and gold theread describing a leaf design troughout. The 5" cuff with 3 smokey glass buttons are a nice touch. The coat / jacket is made of light fabric, it could be worn with simple black dress...Category
1970s American Coats
- 1970s HALSTON Baby Blue Sleeveless Cashmere Vintage Sweater 70s DressBy HalstonLocated in Beverly Hills, CA1970s HALSTON Baby Blue Sleeveless Cashmere Sweater 70s maxi Dress. Fit Size 2/4/6 Bust: 32 - 36 inch Waist: 32- 36 inch Hip : 36 - 38 inch / Dress Length: 55 inch **** This Garme...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
- Comme des Garçons Grey and White plaid cotton dressBy Rei Kawakubo Comme Des Garcons, Comme des GarçonsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAComme does Garçons Grey and white plaid sleeveless cotton dress. Size: small - 2/4Category
Early 2000s Japanese Cocktail Dresses
- Dolce and Gabbana 2004 White Beaded Rhinestones Flapper DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Beverly Hills, CARare 2004 Dolce and Gabbana White Spaghetti Strap Beaded Rhinestones Dress with tassel beads. Flapper Dress. Perfect for Holiday cocktail Party ...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses
- Vintage Yves Saint Laurent White Cotton Coat Dress or Duster Style CoatBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage early 1980's Yves Saint Laurent white cotton duster style coat or coat dress is another YSL take on the utilitarian smock style dresses and tops he designed in the 1970'...Category
1980s Coats and Outerwear
- Azzedine Alaia cream cotton pleated coat dress, ss 1985By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GB▪ Azzedine Alaia cream cotton coat dress ▪ 2 button fastenings at collar ▪ Wide cut sleeves ▪ Voluminous shape ▪ Pleated wrap skirt attached to back panel fastening with two long ...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- VERSACE coat and dress black and white F/W 2011By VersaceLocated in Rubiera, REVERSACE FALL 2011 COLLECTION Black and white coordinated coat and dress Size IT 40 Made in Italy 1st fabric (black): 100% wool 2nd fabric (white): 68% polyester 22% polyurethane and...Category
2010s Italian Coats
$1,848 Sale Price30% Off - 1980s Salvatore Ferragamo Vintage Black Wool Coat or Coat Dress Italy 10By FerragamoLocated in Portland, ORThis is a wonderful vintage black wool coat dress from Salvatore Ferragamo. This could be worn as a coat if you don't mind slipping it over your head. I love the mandarin collar, a...Category
1980s Italian Coats and Outerwear
$500 Sale Price20% Off - 1980s Galanos Asymmetric Grey Coat DressBy GalanosLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis piece is giving us vintage meets Jacquemus vibes! This incredible 1980s Galanos piece can be worn open as a coat or closed as a dress- it's up to you! Dark cool grey fabric with...Category
1980s American Day Dresses
- Kenzo Double Face Black Wool Cheongsam Style Coat 1980sBy Kenzo Takada, Kenzo ParisLocated in West Palm Beach, FLKenzo double face black wool cheongsam style coat from the 1980s. Unusual coat with a high band collar that wraps in the front and closes with double l...Category
1980s French Coats