Friday, May 21, 2010

Luis Estevez - 1961, Part 2

What happens when you buy a multi-page ad in a fashion magazine? You get your dresses featured editorially, of course! In the same issue of Harper's Bazaar that featured the ad pages of Luis Estevez dresses in Mexico I showed you yesterday, the magazine features 2 full pages of Estevez dresses with a focus on lace for evening. You'll notice the same two-piece waistline inserts on two of these evening dresses that we saw on some of the day dresses yesterday.

At left, white lace dress with black silk bow at waist. Sold in 1961 for $100 (about $735 in today's dollar). Hat by Halston of Bergdorf Goodman (yes that Halston).
At right, black lace and white silk organza with a turquoise silk two-piece sash. Sold in 1961 for $125 (about $919 in today's dollar). Hat by Halston. Earrings by Miriam Haskell.

At left, strapless black re-embroidered lace with white silk organza and vibrant pink silk two-piece waistband. Sold in 1961 for $185 (about $1360 in today's dollar). Hat by Vincent Harmik. Earrings by Miriam Haskell.
At right, black lace one-shoulder dress with side draping. Sold in 1961 for $110 (about $808 in today's dollar). Hat by Emme. All gloves by Kislav.

I hope you've enjoyed our look at dresses by Luis Estevez this week. I always count him as one of my favorite designers. In a Life magazine article dated April 2, 1956, Luis Estevez said his wife was his inspiration for his feminine designs. "She likes her dresses to have sharp lines and to be as sexy as possible within the boundaries of good taste." I think he was still true to that mantra 5 years later.

Photos by Melvin Sokolsky for Harper's Bazaar.