40s Wartime Dresses Had Comfort and Style

Heaven to Betsy!  Look What We Found Now! ..... an L'Aiglon

On a recent buying trip near St. Louis, I happened upon a quaint little out-of-the way army/surplus store and much to my surprise on the second floor was a very well-stocked vintage clothing store.  I was very pleased to find a much collected label...L'Aiglon. 

Not every woman in the Wartime 40s had to make their own clothing.  Such clothing manufacturers as L'Aiglon were producing stylish women's dresses during that time.  According to fuzzylizzie.com at the Vintage Fashion Guild's label resource:

"L'Aiglon was founded in 1919 in Philadelphia as part of Biberman Brothers, Inc. The company's original label read "Biberman Make" but changed in 1919 to "L'Aiglon".  On those early labels you will find "Biberman Make" in small letters.  Biberman Make dresses were "wash dresses", or washable. "Tubable" was the word of the era.  Biberman also made bathrobes and uniforms for maids and nurses.<p><font size=+1> Its founder, Joseph Biberman, committed suicide in 1933 as a result of financial difficulties during the Great Depression. The company, however, survived, and continued to make inexpensive but stylish and attractive dresses for women and juniors. During the 1950s, L'Aiglon dresses were used as costumes on the soap opera, The Edge of Night. The company produced dresses until about 1968."

Our "special find" will begin on Ebay at our Vintage Clothes-Line store the evening of June 3rd. It is a typical L'Aiglon dress of the era..sturdy but stylish in a red and white sanforized cotton with huge pockets....a day dress you could feel comfortable in working at home but nice enough to pop on your hat and head for town to do the weekly shopping.  Those who are into swing dancing should love this dress! 



It dates to the mid 40s but like the dress pattern shown on http://www.sensibility.com/vintageimages/1940s/, it begins to show the influence of the later 40s and the New Look with its wider shoulders and longer length.