Claire McCardell

1940sBy: Jennifer Bees

Claire McCardell

Career & Awards Fashion model

Designer Knitwear designer Children’s line

designer Swimwear designer Partner & Vice

President of Townley

Mademoiselle Merit Award, 1943

Coty American Fashion Critics Award, 1944 & 1958

Neiman Marcus Award, 1948 Women’s National Press

Club Award, 1950 Parson’s Medal for

Distinguished Achievement Award, 1956

Accomplishments Authored the book: What

Shall I Wear? The What, Where, When, and How Much of Fashion

Founder of American ready-to-wear fashion

Named in Life Magazine’s 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century, 1990

Maryland’s Women's’ Hall of Fame

Designs & Styles Casual, yet sophisticated &

elegant Functional Practical Comfortable Feminine Simple Inexpensive Clean cuts

› Accentuated the female form Use of nontraditional fabrics

› Wool and cotton swimsuits

Monastic› Dartless› Waistless› Bias-cut› Tent-style

Popover› Wrap-around› Unstructured› Utilitarian› Denim

Diaper Swimsuit

Popover Dress

Trademarks Double top-stitching Brass hardware Decorative hooks Metal rivets Large patch pockets Empire waists Leotards Hoods Pedal pushers Dirndl skirts Fitted bodices Fitted swimsuits Full circle skirts

Dresses in:› Manmade fibers› Wool fleece› Denim

Surprising color combinations

Adjustable components› Drawstrings

Necklines Waists

› Spaghetti ties Mix & match separates

Inspirations Intuition Women’s needs

› Ready-to-wear› Travel

Madeleine Vionnet

NOT:› French fashion

1945 Spring

1946 Spring…

…1946 Spring…

…1946 Spring

1945 Fall…

Picture from Vogue Magazine, 1945

…1945 Fall

1946 Fall

1947 Fall…

…1947 Fall

Who did she influence? Doo Ri Chung

Donna Karan Anna Sui Isaac Mizrahi Cynthia Rowley Calvin Klein Elizabeth McKay Norma Kamali

Doo Ri Chung dress

Sources… Seaman, Margo. McCARDELL, Claire. Fashion Encyclopedia, 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.

› http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Ma-Mu/Mccardell-Claire.html Penn, Irving. “Twelve Beauties.” Vogue, 1947. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.

› http://csebastian.tumblr.com/post/254618102 Glamour Splash. Claire McCardell Fashion Timeline and Innovations. Glamour Splash,

4 Feb. 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.› http://www.glamoursplash.com/2009/02/claire-mccardell-fashion-timeline-and.html

Glamour Splash. Claire McCardell Sportswear. Glamour Splash, 4 Feb. 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.› http://www.glamoursplash.com/2009/02/claire-mccardell-sportswear.html

Staley Wise. The Collection, Genevieve Naylor. Staley Wise Gallery, 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.› http://www.glamoursplash.com/2009/02/claire-mccardell-sportswear.html

Jen Fitch Style. American High Style: Fashioning a Collection at the Brooklyn Museum. Jen Fitch Style Word Press, 16 June 2010. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.› http://jenfitchstyle.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/american-high-style-fashioning-a-collection-at-the-

brooklyn-museum/

Debutant Clothing. Tracey Ulman to Wear Claire McCardell to CFDA. Debutant Clothing, 8 June 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.› http://www.debutanteclothing.com/news/fashion_history/

Colete Patterns. Claire McCardell – The American Look. Colete Patterns. 2 Mar. 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.› http://www.colettepatterns.com/blog/fashion-history/claire-mccardell-the-american-look

Websites

…Sources Lee, Sarah Tomerlin. American Fashion: The Life

and Lines of Adrian, Mainbocher, McCardell, Norell, Trigere. New York, 1975.

Stegemeyer, Anne. Who's Who in Fashion, Third Edition. New York,1996.

Milbank, Caroline Rennolds. Couture: The Great Designers. New York, 1985.

Books