Dress of the day: 1950's Dorothy O'Hara

1950's Dorothy O'Hara Ad.

“Dorothy O’Hara endorses the slim silhouette, exclusively, Her distinctive signature, the “all-in-one-piece” drapery, places this designer in a class of her own. She literally wraps the body in fabric and her ingenuity makes the most of a woman’s figure.
Working with the grain of the fabric and molding it to give depth to the bust and minimize the waistline, the “poured-into” style is nevertheless a step-in dress in every case. The woman can slip easily into her clothes after hairdo and makeup.”

— Los Angeles Times, July 9, 1954 

I have been a huge fan of mid-century designer Dorothy O'Hara ever since I tried on one of her dresses a few years back. The way the dress effortlessly gave me a slim waist, perfectly proportioned hips and a well….TANTALIZING bust got me hooked. No other piece of clothing had that kind of magic power over my not so hourglass form.  I admit to hoarding them whenever we get one in. 

Case in point, the dress above has been hanging in my "private collection" for quite some time. In a strange fit of generosity ( honestly it has always been too big in the bust for me) I decided to offer this one up. It is the perfect little black dress and will never ever ever go out of style. It will do things for your figure you never thought were possible! 

This beauty is available to purchase in the lovely boutique or online in our Etsy store. 

That's me in my favorite 1940's Dorothy O'Hara dress. 

Xtabay Brides....

Elisabeth wearing a blush pink 50's wedding gown by Arden.

Looking stunning in a 1950's William Cahill tea-length dress. 

Gorgeous bride in her 60's embroidered silk organza halter gown.

Sarah looking radiant in her late 50's chiffon dress.

Looking adorable in the 50's bubble gum sashed dress.

Looking nothings less than spectacular in a 1950's Priscilla of Boston cathedral gown. I can't wait to see the actual wedding pics!

Our beloved Megan wearing a 1960's Victoria Royal beaded gown, photographed by Rosemary Ragusa.

Melissa wearing the most gorgeous 1930's lace wedding gown I've ever seen. 

Caitlyn wearing a fabulous 50's party dress by Gigi Young.

 Congratulations to all the lovely brides that found their wedding dresses at Xtabay this year. Keep sending us pictures, seeing these makes my day.

Xtabay Vintage Bridal Salon is open to the public every Saturday from 11-5pm. Private appointments are available Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Call us at 503-234-7568 with any questions!

Bonnie Cashin Collection Part 1

1960's Bonnie Cashin for Sills, sold before I had a chance to show it off:)

1960's New Old Stock 60's Kiminetta mohair coat and dress set, med. Available in our etsy shop.

New old stock 1960's kimono coat by Bonnie Cashin, lined in striped jersey. Available in our etsy shop.

Original price in 1968---$230. 

Matching wool jersey dress, matches the lining in the coat! So cute!

1960's Bonnie Cashin mustard yellow wool coat with hot pink and burgundy plaid. One of my personal favorites and in perfect condition. Available in our etsy shop.

New old stock 60's Bonnie Cashin pale powder blue coat with patch pocket, sold.

New-old stock Bonnie Cashin Lime Green wool jersey coat with hot pink and lavender striped lining and leather trim and matching dress! Amazing! Available in our etsy shop.

Just the dress in 1968 cost 76.!

Rare 1960's New old stock Bonnie Cashin Jumpsuit in wool striped jersey. Available in our etsy shop.

 I am so excited to finally unleash the Bonnie Cashin collection I acquired earlier this summer. The collection comes from the infamous Bette estate. Bette was a prolific shopper that amassed scads of unworn, designer clothing during the 50's and 60's. You may have seen posts earlier this summer that showcased her fabulous sundresses and cocktail wear. This is just a few of the fabulous Bonnie Cashin pieces she had--and never wore. Most have their original price tags and are like new. The coats were priced on average around 250. back in 1967-68. That's spendy even by todays standards!

We have been busy getting them photographed and listed on Etsy. Be sure to check out our shop for all the details.

This coming week I'm excited to pick up some exquisite 40's Davidow suits, an Anne Fogerty jersey dress and a Claire McCardell plaid dress from the cleaners.  I'll be posting pictures soon.

In other news, we had a gorgeous Ceil Chapman dress that sold instantaneously. There it is...the Ceil that got away....

So you can see, things move pretty fast around here. If you see something you love, don't hesitate to call us or send us an email.

You can email me at xtabayliz@gmail.com or call the shop at 503-230-2899.

Happy Labor Day!