1950s Pink Silk Cocktail Party Dress
by Herbert Sondheim

According to the website, www.sondheim.com, "By 1923, when he was twenty-eight, Herbert Sondheim had become president of the Sondheim-Levy Company, with offices on West Thirty-ninth Street; and by 1930, at the height of the Depression, he had bought out his partner. He was established as a manufacturer of beautifully made clothes of marked style and taste, selling to select stores."

This Sondheim dress of hot pink floral silk features a mock wrapped bodice studded with prong set rhinestones and sequins. The waistline is accented with a coordinating lavender pink velvet bow. Short sleeves and back closure with metal zipper. The dress is fully lined.

The labels found in the dress are the Herbert Sondheim, New York label attached in a side seam of the skirt and the Fredleys, Boston, Providence, Wellesley label. Though I have not been able to find direct information about the Fredleys store, this is the second designer labeled dress that I have had with their label, the first being an early 50s Tina Leser. It appears that Fredleys catered to an upscale clientele with top of the line designer fashions.

Overall the condition of this dress is very good and wearable. There are no rips, holes or repairs. A few loose or missing sequins that do not detract at all from the wearability and are hardly noticeable with the overall pattern of the print. There is also a light brownish spot on the front of the skirt. Again it tends to blend with the pattern is not noticeable unless looking closely.

Bust ~ 34"
Waist ~ 30"
Hip ~ 38"
Length ~ 37"