Description
This gorgeous 1960's vintage dress was designed by Norman Norell. The original owner was from a fashion dynasty and knew Mr. Norell personally! This fabulous black taffeta dress has medium white polka dots on the bodice and sleeves, large polka dots on the full skirt, and small polka dots on the original belt!
This long vintage dress has full, cuffed sleeves and a banded high neck collar. There is a back zipper for closure and the dress is lined with a fine black organza fabric for fullness. It is a long dress with a 9" hem that can easily be let out for a customized longer length.
We estimate this dress to fit a modern day size 6/8 but please use the measurements as a guide for the best fit. This dress includes the original customer's name on a numbered label, the signature "front" label that Norman Norell used and his name is stamped on the belt. It is in excellent condition, with slight darkening on a few polka dots from age.
BUST: 36"
WAIST: 28"
HIPS: Free
SLEEVES: 23"
SHOULDERS: 14"
LENGTH from top of shoulder to waist: 15"
LENGTH from waist: 36"
Provenance is very important to us, so we hope you will enjoy reading a little more about the woman who owned the beautiful dress and other Norman Norell dresses we are so honored to have in our collection. Her granddaughters provided this small glimpse into their family's rich fashion history:
The Meier, Schwartz and Sadowsky Families were prominent members of the fashion industry for 150 years. Reuben Sadowsky was a prominent real estate and garment tycoon in the 19th century, having erected the Sadowsky Building at 1372 Broadway in Manhattan, the first manufacturing site in “Garment Town”. Many of the Norell pieces that we are listing, including this dress, were originally designed for Reuben’s only daughter, Betty Sadowsky Schwartz. Betty Sadowsky married Harry Schwartz, who owned National Department Stores.
Harry Schwartz was a very close college friend of Oscar Hammerstein ( of Rogers & Hammerstein), and Harry was actually in Hammerstein’s wedding. Betty and Harry Schwartz would often attend openings of the Rogers & Hammerstein plays, among them “Away We Go” which later was re-titled and is now known as “Oklahoma”. Betty's granddaughters told us that several of the evening gowns we are selling were worn at events hosted by Rogers & Hammerstein.
Since Betty’s husband owned National Department Stores, the Schwartz family would regularly visit their stores around the country. Among the stores in the National Department Store chain was Lipman Wolfe & Company, which was located in the building across from Meier & Frank’s flagship store in Portland, Oregon.
On one of the Schwartz’s visits to Portland, they brought their daughter, and while there, she met a descendant of the Meier & Frank Company. Meier & Frank was a prominent chain of department stores founded in Portland and later bought by the May Department Stores Company (Macy’s). Meier & Frank operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2006. The two eventually were married, thus joining two remarkable fashion families! Betty eventually moved to Portland to be near her daughter.
She and her daughter, often accompanied by a granddaughter or two, would travel to New York together to personally view Norman Norell's latest collections and to have pieces custom designed and custom fitted. It seems that Betty Schwartz's adoration of Norell's designs was passed on to her daughter!
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.
1960s Norman Norell Vintage Dress Black Taffeta w/ White Polka Dots
All of our pieces have been professionally cleaned and arrive ready to wear.
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 |
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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. | |
|
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
This gorgeous 1960's vintage dress was designed by Norman Norell. The original owner was from a fashion dynasty and knew Mr. Norell personally! This fabulous black taffeta dress has medium white polka dots on the bodice and sleeves, large polka dots on the full skirt, and small polka dots on the original belt!
This long vintage dress has full, cuffed sleeves and a banded high neck collar. There is a back zipper for closure and the dress is lined with a fine black organza fabric for fullness. It is a long dress with a 9" hem that can easily be let out for a customized longer length.
We estimate this dress to fit a modern day size 6/8 but please use the measurements as a guide for the best fit. This dress includes the original customer's name on a numbered label, the signature "front" label that Norman Norell used and his name is stamped on the belt. It is in excellent condition, with slight darkening on a few polka dots from age.
BUST: 36"
WAIST: 28"
HIPS: Free
SLEEVES: 23"
SHOULDERS: 14"
LENGTH from top of shoulder to waist: 15"
LENGTH from waist: 36"
Provenance is very important to us, so we hope you will enjoy reading a little more about the woman who owned the beautiful dress and other Norman Norell dresses we are so honored to have in our collection. Her granddaughters provided this small glimpse into their family's rich fashion history:
The Meier, Schwartz and Sadowsky Families were prominent members of the fashion industry for 150 years. Reuben Sadowsky was a prominent real estate and garment tycoon in the 19th century, having erected the Sadowsky Building at 1372 Broadway in Manhattan, the first manufacturing site in “Garment Town”. Many of the Norell pieces that we are listing, including this dress, were originally designed for Reuben’s only daughter, Betty Sadowsky Schwartz. Betty Sadowsky married Harry Schwartz, who owned National Department Stores.
Harry Schwartz was a very close college friend of Oscar Hammerstein ( of Rogers & Hammerstein), and Harry was actually in Hammerstein’s wedding. Betty and Harry Schwartz would often attend openings of the Rogers & Hammerstein plays, among them “Away We Go” which later was re-titled and is now known as “Oklahoma”. Betty's granddaughters told us that several of the evening gowns we are selling were worn at events hosted by Rogers & Hammerstein.
Since Betty’s husband owned National Department Stores, the Schwartz family would regularly visit their stores around the country. Among the stores in the National Department Store chain was Lipman Wolfe & Company, which was located in the building across from Meier & Frank’s flagship store in Portland, Oregon.
On one of the Schwartz’s visits to Portland, they brought their daughter, and while there, she met a descendant of the Meier & Frank Company. Meier & Frank was a prominent chain of department stores founded in Portland and later bought by the May Department Stores Company (Macy’s). Meier & Frank operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2006. The two eventually were married, thus joining two remarkable fashion families! Betty eventually moved to Portland to be near her daughter.
She and her daughter, often accompanied by a granddaughter or two, would travel to New York together to personally view Norman Norell's latest collections and to have pieces custom designed and custom fitted. It seems that Betty Schwartz's adoration of Norell's designs was passed on to her daughter!
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.
Complete the look
Vintage Jewelry Makes the Perfect Finishing Touch
Complete the look
Vintage belts tie it all together