Description
Bruce MacIntosh Howard Greer Vintage Dress
Green Silk Chiffon full length vintage evening gown from the 1950's by Bruce MacIntosh for Howard Greer. Luxurious green silk chiffon with gorgeous draping and pleated Grecian style bodice. This is one of my favorite dresses and I have been reluctant to put it on the site because it is one I love visiting every now and then.
Howard Greer was a costume designer in Hollywood but also owned a couture salon. He began his career after college working with Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon), first in Chicago and then in New York. Bruce MacIntosh became his partner in 1946 and he convinced Greer to do more ready to wear and to move away from exclusively offering couture. Eventually, the two made only ready to wear, but it was very exclusive still - usually only one dress was sold per city. This dress would have been made in the late 1950's and it is made with such care, it's hard to believe that it was considered "ready to wear" because you can see that there is some handwork and the details are amazing.Today, I am not sure if anything is made like this! After 35 years in business, Greer and MacIntosh closed their business in 1962. Howard Greer vintage evening gowns would normally sell for over $1000 but price has been adjusted because there are a few issues that need attention.
Condition: Needs some love: The silk chiffon needs to be re-attached in a few places along the bodice at the top - it has torn away from the lining but this should be an easy fix for a seamstress. The chiffon that covers the straps is somewhat frayed so I would suggest wearing it strapless. Lastly, there have been two repairs to the chiffon near the bottom and there are a few tears there as well. I assume that the tears happened when someone caught it in a shoe. Because the fabric is so full in the skirt, if the tears are repaired, they shouldn't be noticeable at all. I don't say that lightly, I normally don't even sell dresses on my site if they have any flaws at all, but his dress is so exceptional that I know it would be worth repairing. There is a back metal zipper that has hooks and eyes that close to make it invisible. This is such an incredible, important dress, and I know that it would make a gorgeous special event dress for the buyer who appreciates the quality and details in designer vintage clothing and is willing to have the garment repaired so it can once again be worn and loved. I almost want someone to leave it on a dress form in their living room for decor, but it's too pretty not to wear!
| BUST | 34" |
| WAIST | 26" |
| HIPS | Free |
| LENGTH under arm to waist | 8" |
| LENGTH from waist | 23" |
In order to best determine fit, measure yourself or a garment of a similar style that fits you well. Compare those measurements to those on the item description.
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Measuring & Fit Guide
We offer a large selection of designers and manufacturers that span the 20th and early 21st century. Sizing varies greatly, so we have outlined our measuring and size estimating process.
The best way to know if a vintage item will fit you is to take a garment that fits you well, similar to the one you are interested in purchasing, and measure it the way we measure ours.
View our video guide to taking accurate body measurements:
We lay all garments flat and measure as follows*:
| DRESSES | PANTS | |
|
BUST - under arm to under arm across the front and then double that measurement. |
Measure the WAISTBAND, widest part of the HIPS, widest part of the THIGH on one leg and width of the CUFF, then double those measurements |
|
|
WAIST - find the smallest part of the garment if there isn't an obvious seam for the waist and measure across and then double that measurement. |
LENGTH - Measure from the top of the waistband to the bottom of the cuff along the side seam. | |
| HIPS - Find the largest part of the hip area and measure flat, then double that measurement. | RISE - Measure from the crotch to the top of the waistband. | |
| LENGTH - from the nape of the neck or the top of the shoulders, depending on the style of garment. We will measure to the waist when applicable, so that you can determine if it will fit your torso, and then a waist down measurement. | INSEAM - Measure from the crotch to the bottom of the cuff along the inside seam. | |
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SLEEVES - measure from the top of the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve. When we think that the arm opening is particularly small, we will provide that measurement as well.** |
*Fabrics with stretch will have some give, we will try to mention the range of measurements that will fit comfortably.
**With dolman sleeves, the size is an estimation based on the waist as the body seamlessly joins the sleeve. 
Feel free to email us with specific questions about specific measurements that we may not have included that you need to know in order to feel confident about your purchase. If you have a particularly long torso, short legs, long arms, etc.. we can help you determine whether or not a garment will work for your body.
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Measurements, not size. View our Measuring Guide
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Description
Bruce MacIntosh Howard Greer Vintage Dress
Green Silk Chiffon full length vintage evening gown from the 1950's by Bruce MacIntosh for Howard Greer. Luxurious green silk chiffon with gorgeous draping and pleated Grecian style bodice. This is one of my favorite dresses and I have been reluctant to put it on the site because it is one I love visiting every now and then.
Howard Greer was a costume designer in Hollywood but also owned a couture salon. He began his career after college working with Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon), first in Chicago and then in New York. Bruce MacIntosh became his partner in 1946 and he convinced Greer to do more ready to wear and to move away from exclusively offering couture. Eventually, the two made only ready to wear, but it was very exclusive still - usually only one dress was sold per city. This dress would have been made in the late 1950's and it is made with such care, it's hard to believe that it was considered "ready to wear" because you can see that there is some handwork and the details are amazing.Today, I am not sure if anything is made like this! After 35 years in business, Greer and MacIntosh closed their business in 1962. Howard Greer vintage evening gowns would normally sell for over $1000 but price has been adjusted because there are a few issues that need attention.
Condition: Needs some love: The silk chiffon needs to be re-attached in a few places along the bodice at the top - it has torn away from the lining but this should be an easy fix for a seamstress. The chiffon that covers the straps is somewhat frayed so I would suggest wearing it strapless. Lastly, there have been two repairs to the chiffon near the bottom and there are a few tears there as well. I assume that the tears happened when someone caught it in a shoe. Because the fabric is so full in the skirt, if the tears are repaired, they shouldn't be noticeable at all. I don't say that lightly, I normally don't even sell dresses on my site if they have any flaws at all, but his dress is so exceptional that I know it would be worth repairing. There is a back metal zipper that has hooks and eyes that close to make it invisible. This is such an incredible, important dress, and I know that it would make a gorgeous special event dress for the buyer who appreciates the quality and details in designer vintage clothing and is willing to have the garment repaired so it can once again be worn and loved. I almost want someone to leave it on a dress form in their living room for decor, but it's too pretty not to wear!
| BUST | 34" |
| WAIST | 26" |
| HIPS | Free |
| LENGTH under arm to waist | 8" |
| LENGTH from waist | 23" |
In order to best determine fit, measure yourself or a garment of a similar style that fits you well. Compare those measurements to those on the item description.
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