1940s Fashion

Spectacular Gilbert Adrian two-piece skirt suit dating back to the mid 1940's. He created the signature looks for the great Hollywood divas such as Garbo, Shearer, Crawford, Garland, and Harlow. Adrian took into account the actress as well as the character she would be portraying when he designed a dress or suit. He surveyed her attitudes, her personal style, and her body to find the look that would make her shine. As a result, he created a definitive look that women all over the world wanted to have for themselves. The retail marked jumped to produce affordable dresses that imitated Adrian's creation. In 1942 he left MGM and opened a salon in Beverly Hills, catering to the very well-to-do. Adrian pieces are very rare and a prized piece to any vintage collection. This wonderful Adrian suit...

Created by one of the most highly acclaimed costume designers of the golden age of Hollywood, this a rare opportunity to acquire a rare piece from the legendary Gilbert Adrian. His t...

A breathtaking Gilbert Adrian designed gown for Lana Turner's performance in the 1943 MGM production of Slightly Dangerous. He created the signature looks for the great Hollywood div...

A fabulous suit from the legendary Gilbert Adrian known for impeccable designs and tailoring for film and the famous. There is an amazing attention to detail in this 2 piece tan lig...

A spectacular 1940s Gilbert Adrian skirt suit created with typical Adrian panache! Gray wool gabardine suiting is fashioned into a slew of button embellished straps that wrap over t...

This vintage Gilbert Adrian dress came from the estate of a woman who owned a luxury fashion boutique in the Northwest. She saved a few of her favorite pieces for all of these years and this was one of them. The dress appears to have never been worn and is in excellent condition with a back metal zipper and ribbon tie at the center of the top. The layers of ruffles are in a pretty pink cotton and the bodice has an almost "peasant" look with a fitted waist. This is an incredible dress and it bears the Adrian Original label. Gilbert Adrian is one of my favorite costume designers and he is perhaps most famously known for designing costumes for the Wizard of Oz and for Hollywood stars including Joan Crawford (it is said he created the large shoulder pad look of the 1940's), Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Jeanette MacDonald, Jean Harlow, and Katharine Hepburn when he was at MGM. When he left MGM, he started his own fashion house and created both custom and ready to wear garments. Sometimes, his movie fashions...

A very rare custom evening gown from designer Gilbert Adrian. Gilbert Adrian was the costume designer for MGM before starting his own fashion house after he left the studio in 1941. ...

Spectacular 1948 Grecian-inspired glamorous evening gown ensemble by the famous Gilbert Adrian. He created the signature looks for the great Ho...

Very rare printed silk dress with elaborate piecing, pleating at bust, chevron mitering and full length back flounce from Gilbert Adrian dating to the 1940's. The details are amazing...

A fantastic 40s suit jacket from the legendary couturier and film costumer Gilbert Adrian in black gabardine with "Chevron" seaming and tab insert detain thro...

ALSO SEE ADRIAN HAT CAPSULE COLLECTION A circa 1940's Adrian suit designed and manufactured during World War II, under U.S. rationing and restrictions...