Adele Simpson
Encyclopedia
Adele Simpson was a child performer in vaudeville
who danced in productions with Milton Berle
and other entertainers. She became a fashion designer
whose influence continued for nearly five decades.
. Simpson took the place of her older sister, Anna, as head designer for Ben Girshel, which was a prominent 7th Avenue manufacturer. Some years later she began work for Mary Lee, a business also based on 7th Avenue.
She introduced her medium-priced line of clothing in New York in 1949. She adapted French couture
and presented it with an American ready-to-wear translation.
Also in 1949, Simpson bought Mary Lee and renamed the company Adele Simpson.
In 1971 Simpson's business address was Adele Simpson, Inc., 530 7th Avenue
, Manhattan, New York. Her homes were at 5A East 178th Street, New York City 10021 and 61 Porchuck Road, Greenwich, Connecticut
06830.
. She designed a wrinkle-resistant yellow street-length coat and
matching princess-line dress and hat for Lady Bird Johnson
in 1966. The occasion for the designs was the marriage of Luci Johnson.
Pat Nixon
and Barbara Bush
also wore Simpson designed clothing. Her collections were available at Bonwit Teller
, B. Altman, and Saks Fifth Avenue
.
made of linen and it's buttons are high and snug. It has a petal-white collar.
A September 22, 1947 Life Magazine featured an article entitled Newest styles give every woman's figure a chance. These fall fashions included an
Adele Simpson green satin afternoon dress with a dropped shoulder line for $50, and a gold brocade dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline, which retailed for $79.
Simpson's 1970 fall collection featured Japanese-styled, high-necked, hobble-skirted dresses in Japanese silk prints.
, the firm chose not to continue the Adele Simpson line. Barron Peters later fiiled for bankruptcy.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
who danced in productions with Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
and other entertainers. She became a fashion designer
whose influence continued for nearly five decades.
Design career
Born Adele Smithline, she was the fifth daughter born to Latvian immigrants. At 21 she completed her design curriculum at the Pratt InstitutePratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
. Simpson took the place of her older sister, Anna, as head designer for Ben Girshel, which was a prominent 7th Avenue manufacturer. Some years later she began work for Mary Lee, a business also based on 7th Avenue.
She introduced her medium-priced line of clothing in New York in 1949. She adapted French couture
Couture
-Places in France:* Couture, Charente, in the Charente département* Couture-d'Argenson, in the Deux-Sèvres département* Couture-sur-Loir, in the Loir-et-Cher département-People:* Randy Couture , American mixed martial arts fighter...
and presented it with an American ready-to-wear translation.
Also in 1949, Simpson bought Mary Lee and renamed the company Adele Simpson.
In 1971 Simpson's business address was Adele Simpson, Inc., 530 7th Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
, Manhattan, New York. Her homes were at 5A East 178th Street, New York City 10021 and 61 Porchuck Road, Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
06830.
Prominence
Simpson received many citations for her fashion designs, including the 1947 Coty AwardCoty Award
The Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards were first announced in January 1942 by the cosmetics and perfume company Coty, Inc. to promote and celebrate American fashion, and encourage design during the Second World War. The first awards were presented in January 1943, with Norman Norell winning...
. She designed a wrinkle-resistant yellow street-length coat and
matching princess-line dress and hat for Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
in 1966. The occasion for the designs was the marriage of Luci Johnson.
Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
and Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
also wore Simpson designed clothing. Her collections were available at Bonwit Teller
Bonwit Teller
Bonwit Teller was a department store in New York City founded by Paul Bonwit in 1895 at Sixth Avenue and 18th Street. In 1897 Edmund D. Teller was admitted to the partnership and the store moved to 23rd Street, East of Sixth Avenue...
, B. Altman, and Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
.
Media coverage
The March 3, 1947 Life Magazine has pictures of Simpson's crocus suit. The spring attire was constructed of sheer wool crepe. The cuffs of the jacket aremade of linen and it's buttons are high and snug. It has a petal-white collar.
A September 22, 1947 Life Magazine featured an article entitled Newest styles give every woman's figure a chance. These fall fashions included an
Adele Simpson green satin afternoon dress with a dropped shoulder line for $50, and a gold brocade dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline, which retailed for $79.
Simpson's 1970 fall collection featured Japanese-styled, high-necked, hobble-skirted dresses in Japanese silk prints.
Later years
Simpson continued to design into her 70s before she retired in 1985. Her daughter, Joan Raines, and her son-in-law, Richard Raines, maintained the business prior to selling out to Barron Peters in 1991. Based in Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, the firm chose not to continue the Adele Simpson line. Barron Peters later fiiled for bankruptcy.