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Category: Vintage Fashion Designer

Vintage Fashion Designer Spotlight: Fred Perlberg Dance Originals

As vintage fashion enthusiasts, it’s always a joy to learn about the designers who made your favourite pieces a reality (and to see more of those designs). For today’s post, we will dive into the world of one such designer who has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry: Fred Perlberg.

Fred Perlberg was well known for his beautiful party dresses and I’m excited to showcase the vintage ads & real life dress examples of his stunning designs.

Let’s begin!

1950s Fred Perlberg Dress with a tulip / petal bust and a full skirt. Stunning 1950s Fashion inspiration.

Source: Reddit

Further Reading: This post is a series I have done on Vintage Fashion Designers / Brands that I have wanted to showcase not only for my readers but also for myself! Take a read after your done.


Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 


Fred Perlberg-Dance Originals Designs

About:

Fred Perlberg (1901-1991) began working in the New York fashion industry when he was sixteen. Three years later, at the age of nineteen, he started his own company (around 1920). Fred Perlberg Originals were mid-priced party and dance dresses and were marketed across the United States and Canada. Fred Perlberg retired in 1968, but the company continued with Roger Milot as the designer (Source-Vintage Fashion Guild).

1940s vintage clothing label for Fred Perlberg Dresses
1940s Clothing Label

Vintage Inn Blog Note: I was unable to find any of his designs before the 1950s (a little bit in the 1940s) anywhere on the web. If any of my readers can shed light on this designer for the missing time periods that would be fantastic! Comment below.

Vintage Fashion Advertising

November 1940 advertisement: “Mountie Red”. Young Hollywood Fashions sponsored by Fred Perlberg, Inc.

1940s evening gowns inspired by the dramatic colors in Cecil B. DeMille, “North West Mounted Police” with Gary Cooper & Paulette Goddard.

1940s vintage advertisement / 1940s Fashions: 1940s evening gowns inspired by the dramatic colors in Cecil B. DeMille, "North West Mounted Police" with Gary Cooper & Paulette Goddard. Dresses by Fashion Designer-Fred Perlberg

“Holiday red…deep, glistening black-more festive this season because of Chromspun”.

In this 1950s ad, the Fred Perlberg designs highlight the Chromspun taffeta in the two gowns. A petal-skirted, matching sequin trim dress & a floor-length, with dramatic back black evening gown.

Chromspun (acetate fiber with the color locked in) is a trademarked product of the Eastman Chemical Company.

1950s fashion ad for Fred Perlberg evening gowns. One 1950s full skirt dress is in red, the other is a stunning black floor length evening gown.

Source: Pinterest

“Here comes the Bride”….This is an original 1956 color print ad for a princess-line wedding dress designed by Miss Lillian of Miriam Modes. Also featured is a long-bodiced bridesmaid dress of Chromspun taffeta with floating back panels, designed by Josephine of Fred Perlberg.

Further Reading – Vintage Photos: The 1950’s Bride

1950s Vintage Ad: This is an original 1956 color print ad for a princess-line wedding dress of Skinner's peau de faille with a deep box-pleated dust ruffle and a crescent inset of sequin-spattered re-embroidered Alencon lace, designed by Miss Lillian of Miriam Modes. Also featured is a long-bodiced bridesmaid dress of Chromspun taffeta with floating back panels, designed by Josephine of Fred Perlberg. Fantastic Vintage Wedding Inspiration!

Source: Period Paper

1950s vintage fashion ad featuring stunning full skirt gowns.

1950s vintage fashion advertisement for Fred Perlberg Dance originals featuring 1950s Circle skirt dresses. Fantastic 1950s fashions!

Source: Etsy-VintageVortex

1950s fashion ad featuring fashion illustrations of Fred Perlberg dresses for weddings, garden and even Halloween parties.

1950s vintage advertisement for Fred Perlberg dresses featuring an illustration of 1950s evening dresses. Fantastic 1950s fashion inspiration.

Source: Etsy-VintageVortex

“Dateline: Holiday Time U.S.A.” featuring pretty nylon tulle evening gowns in full length and waltz length.

1950s vintage ad for women's 1950s evening gowns by Fred Perlberg Dance Originals.

Source: Facebook

1stDibs has the actual dress in the ad above for sale on their website at the time of this blog post. I will share it below so that you can see the stunning details the advertisement just cannot show.

Description: 1950s Fred Perlberg white and Robin’s egg blue rhinestone encrusted strapless gown. Boned bodice. Hundreds of rhinestones really make this dress sparkle. Features layers of white tulle with blue silk satin around the waist (Source).

1950s Fashion: 1950s Fred Perlberg white and Robin’s egg blue rhinestone encrusted strapless gown ! Boned bodice. Hundreds of rhinestones really make this dress sparkle. Features layers of white tulle with blue silk satin around the waist

Real Life Examples of Fred Perlberg Dresses

(avail at time of posting)


Vintage Shopping: I have created a ‘Fred Perlberg Dresses’ Etsy Collection that is updated monthly. Happy Shopping!

(NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites).


The first Fred Perlberg 1950s dress reminds me of the dresses featured in the last advertisement above. A 1950s Prom Dress / Evening Gown in Taffeta (this one is dusty pink & sky blue (which can be seen in certain light) and tiered netting with a bodice that is boned and gathered. STUNNING!

Further Reading: Prom in the 1940s and 1950s

1950s Fashion: Fred Perlberg 1950s Prom Dress / Evening Gown in Taffeta (this one is dusty pink & sky blue (which can be seen in certain light) and tiered netting with a bodice that is boned and gathered.

Source: Etsy-SadieVain

1950s party dress with matching shawl. The fabric is textured and embossed. It is a strapless style with a heavily boned bodice and a nipped waist. The waist is pleated and the shelf bodice is sheer ivory fabric with a lace trim.

Fashion Note: I’m really starting to notice that Fred really liked dramatic bodices. Pleating, gathers, petal style designs. This will make it easy for all of you when you are out in the world to instantly recognize his designs.

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg Dance Originals party dress with matching shawl. Fred Perlberg was well known for his party dresses and this is a beautiful example. The fabric is textured and embossed. It is a strapless style with a heavily boned bodice and a nipped waist. The waist is pleated and the bodice is sheer ivory fabric with a lace trim. There is a built in crinoline to give the dress structure but I have also shown it with an extra crinoline. The dress has a metal side zipper with a hook and eye. The shawl has tasseled ends.

Source: eBay

1940s lime green Fred Perlberg dress with beautiful buttons down the front and a sheer ribbon bust.

The ebay listing says it’s a 1950s dress but it reminds me of the dress in the 1940s ad featured further up in this post. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

1940s Fashion (maybe 1950s?): 1940s lime green Fred Perlberg dress with beautiful buttons down the front and a sheer ribbon bust.

Source: eBay

“Holiday Red” like in another vintage ad featured above. Stunning 1950s Evening Gown with a full skirt and lovely pleated details. Beautiful.

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg Evening Gown-The dress is a gorgeous red color with spaghetti straps and a pleats off the shoulder sleeves/bertha collar that has a sweet little bow at the center. The bodice is fitted and it has a basque waistline. There are pleated swags on the sides and the skirt is wonderfully full. The dress is ballerina/ankle length and is unlined.

Source: Etsy- WoldsVintage

1950s dress with a fitted bustier boned bodice and a super full circle skirt with fantastic orange swirls on the fabric. A wonderful summer dress!

I am IN LOVE with this dress, but sadly I would not fit in it. But someone should buy it and then show it off to the world!

1950s fashion: a 1950s sundress, strapless by Fred Perlberg featuring orange swirls on the fabric and a full circle skirt.

Source: Etsy-VINTAGEVAVAVOOMZ

1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet (closeup photo below) and rhinestone embellishments. The dress also has matching, open arm band gloves.

1940s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet and rhinestone embellishments. The dress also has matching, open arm band gloves.
1940s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1940s dark mauve moire taffeta dress. The dress is unique, featuring side bustles with faux flower bouquet and rhinestone embellishments. T

Source: eBay

1950s or 1960s emerald green satin fabric with a fitted bodice and full skirt, Fred Perlberg dress. Bodice is completely boned for support and ends in petal-like points of fabric at bust.

1950s or 1960s emerald green satin fabric with a fitted bodice and full skirt, Fred Perlberg dress. Bodice is completely boned for support and ends in petal-like points of fabric at bust.

Source: Etsy-NostalgiaVintage2

1940s Fred Perlberg silk taffeta evening dress. Once again the cap sleeves and bust area is what stands out in the design of this dress.

1940s Fashion: 1940s Fred Perlberg silk taffeta evening dress with cute sleeves.

Source: Etsy-OffBroadwayVintage

Looking for a “Little Black Dress”? This 1960s Fred Perlberg dress with decorative buttons would be perfect.

1960s Fashion: A Fred Perlberg 1960s dress. Black dress with decorative buttons down the front. Perfect "Little black dress".

Source: eBay

1950s elegant ivory silk chiffon halter gown with large flowers on the fabric. What a statement dress!

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Fred Perlberg elegant ivory silk chiffon halter gown with large flowers on the fabric.

Source: Etsy-GlennasVintageShop

Question Time: Have you heard of this fashion Designer? Do you own a Fred Perlberg piece? What dress did you love above? Share any thoughts about this post in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Juli Lynne Charlot-The Creator of the Poodle Skirt

When people think of 1950s fashions, the first thing that pops into their head, is the Poodle Skirt. This iconic fashion piece took the world by storm in the 1950s and remains a beloved symbol of the era to this day.

1950s vintage photo of a model in a poodle skirt posing with a poodle.

BUT! Did you know that the creator of the poodle skirt, Juli Lynne Charlot JUST passed away at the age of 101 on March 3rd, 2024? It’s true as you can see from the screen grab from the New York Times. Sad news, but what a long life!

Now after I saw this news (special shoutout to my amazing sister-in-law who brought this to my attention), I realized that I have never done a blog post on Juli before. Why? I have zero clue but today that all changes!

Let’s learn all about Juli Lynne Charlot’s fashion design path, see her creations and also view some items that are available for sale at the time of this post.

Let the fun begin!

Photo of the creator of the 1950s Poodle Skirt-Juli Lynn Charlot who lived to be a 101. She is posing with the famous poodle skirt.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.


Juli’s Early Life

1940s vintage photo of Juli Lynn Charlot, the creator of the Poodle Skirt in her early days as an actress & singer. Love her hair flower in her 1940s hairstyle.
  • Born Shirley Ann Agin on October 26, 1922, in Manhattan, New York.
  • At the age of 13, she started voice lessons. She had dreams of becoming an opera singer and would eventually change her name to be more “diva like”.
  • When she was a child, her family moved to Southern California. There, her father, an electrician, and her mother, an embroiderer, plied their trades at Hollywood studios.
  • She attended ‘Hollywood High School’ with friends like Judy Garland, Ann Miller & Lana Turner.
  • After high school, Juli participated alongside the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera as a singer and also sang with an orchestra directed by Xavier Cugat.
  • She made her Broadway debut in 1945 in the Victor Herbert operetta “The Red Mill,” and was cast as a singer in the 1946 film comedy “Night in Paradise.” (source)
  • Throughout her performing years, she designed her own wardrobe. Because she had refused to learn to sew (“I didn’t want to be a drudge, like my mother”), she hired a seamstress to realize her designs in cloth (source).

Juli also performed with the Marx Brothers, who asked her to tour with them at several military bases during World War II (source).

1940s photo: Juli Lynne Charlot, wearing a dress of her own design, with Harpo Marx.

1940s vintage photo of Juli Lynne Charlot (the creator of the poodle skirt), wearing a dress of her own design, with Harpo Marx.
  • She also loved love and was married four times, “to two millionaires, a royal count and a Baron”.

Juli the Fashion Designer

In 1947, at age 25, Charlot was invited to a Christmas party in Los Angeles and planned to create a dress for the event. Having little money (her current husband, Philip Charlot had lost his job around this time & Juli was no longer a working singer), she decided to make her own skirt to wear, instead. 

“I couldn’t sew seams,” recalled Juli Lynne Charlot, “so I cut a circle with a hole in the middle, put it on a waistband and had my skirt.”

Spokesman.com

“If I had known how to sew, or had the money to purchase better materials, I would have never made the circle skirt.”

Wikipedia
1950s Fashion: A Christmas Holiday Circle Skirt designed by Julie Lynn Charlot the creator of the Poodle Skirt
A Christmas Holiday Circle Skirt designed by Julie Lynn Charlot (seen in the first image)

The Skirt:  Charlot’s mother owned a factory which used felt, which allowed her to use that material. It was also the height of the New Look when fabric restrictions were lifted and skirts got fuller and longer. So Juli added some Christmas motif appliques to the skirt and went off to the party.

A week later, Charlot made two more circle skirts due to how wonderful they turned out. She took them to a Beverly Hills, California boutique just prior to Christmas 1947. They were sold immediately; this started the Juli Lynne Charlot California company (great logo typography btw) (source).

Source: Etsy-VINTAGEVAVAVOOMZ

The Iconic Poodle Skirt Is Born

After Christmas 1947, the boutique requested a non-holiday motif. They figured that dogs were popular so it was suggested that Juli Lynne make a dog-themed skirt.  She came up with the idea of three dachshunds: two females and a male.  The first dog was a flirty girl, the seconds one was a girl with her nose stuck in the air, and the third was the male who was trying to get to the flirty girl.  But all the leashes became intertwined so the boy dog could only get to the stuck up girl (Source-Vintage Traveler).

The skirts at the boutique in Beverly Hills were quite popular and sold out; in early 1948, Charlot designed a similar skirt with poodles, which was more successful than the previous skirts based on dachshunds (source).

The Poodle Skirt is born!

1950s Fashion / 1950s Vintage Photo of Juli Lynne Charlot the designer of the Poodle skirt wearing her design.
Juli Lynn Charlot in one of her first Poodle Skirt designs

Poodle Skirts & More!

Due to the incredible popularity of the skirts, Ms. Charlot soon had a poodle-skirt factory. She made skirts adorned with images of frogs and lily pads, Parisian street scenes, galloping racehorses, cascading flowers and champagne glasses and pink elephants, along with coordinating blouses, sweaters, dresses, hats and handbags.

Exclusive department stores, including Bullock’s Wilshire in Los Angeles, Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, were carrying her designs. And by the early 1950s, her skirts were selling for about $35 apiece — some $400 in today’s money (source).

1950s Fashion: a 1950s Felt Circle skirt with a Paris scene designed by poodle skirt creator Juli Lynne Charlot
1950s Fashion: a 1950s Felt Circle skirt with flowers designed by poodle skirt creator Juli Lynne Charlot

Example of a sweater designed by Juli, a 1950s vintage novelty cardigan. Incredibly detailed applique throughout of a lively travel scene – mountains, buildings, boats and floral blooms (avail for sale at time of posting).

1950s Fashion: A Juli Lynn Charlot, 1950s vintage novelty cardigan. Incredibly detailed applique throughout of a lively travel scene - mountains, buildings, boats and floral blooms.

Source: Etsy-bellofbow

Charlot’s designs were so successful that one of them appeared in a national ad campaign for Maidenform bras in 1952 (seen below). Leading Designer Patterns, a mail order pattern company, also released one of her designs.

Juli was a huge success!

1950s vintage ad from 1952 for Maidenform bra's featuring a woman wearing a 1950s bra and a Juli Lynne Charlot Circle skirt. Juli was the creator of the poodle skirt.

Source: Pinterest

The skirts seemed to celebrate the postwar optimism in the United States and offer a canvas for the 1950s flood of consumer kitsch. The poodle skirt, especially for teen girls, also was a chance for an important style statement: I’m not wearing what my mom wore (source).

1950s vintage photo of two young girls in 1950s fashions. One girl is wearing jeans and plaid shirt and the other is wearing a felt circle skirt with an applique on it and saddle shoes.

Copycats Everywhere!

1950s vintage photo of a young woman in a 1950s circle skirt with poinsettias on the skirt putting decorations on a Aluminum Christmas Tree.

When one becomes popular, especially in the world of fashion, it is only a matter of time before others copy the designs. From mail order catalogues, to at home sewers (so many vintage sewing patterns out there), the skirts were seen everywhere! Especially because anyone could easily make it.

1950s vintage photo of a teenage girl in a circle skirt with Elvis Presley name on the skirt. The Circle Skirt aka the Poodle Skirt was originally created by Juli Lynn Charlot
A teenage girl wearing a circle skirt with Elvis Presley’s name on it.

Vintage 1950s Teenage circle skirt with poodle applique.

1950s vintage sewing pattern: 1950s Teen Age Circle Skirt with Poodle Applique

Source: Etsy-CloesCloset

1950s catalog page featuring a pretty felt circle skirt with floral applique and on the right a sewing pattern for women’s heart applique circle skirts (and one with just lines).

1950s fashion for young women as seen in this 1950s catalog page for 1950s circle skirt with floral applique and a women 1950s top and skirt.
1950s women's circle skirt vintage sewing pattern featuring circle skirts with hearts on them.

1956 Toronto Metropolitan University Fashion Design students sporting their own circle skirt designs.

Fun fact! I graduated from the fashion marketing program at TMU in 2003.

1950s vintage photo: 1956 Toronto Metropolitan University Fashion Design students sporting their own circle skirt designs with fun appliques on them. Like televisions and the Eiffel tower.

Juli’s Later Life

While in Mexico in the 1980s, Charlot took interest in a classic Mexican wedding dress and decided to create variations on it. This resulted in her purchase of a manufacturing plant in Mexico City to produce and export these dresses worldwide. The factory later collapsed during the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, forcing her to abandon the dress business (source).

Charlot died at her home in Tepoztlán on March 3, 2024, at age 101.

The Poodle Skirts Legacy

In later years, the poodle skirt became visual shorthand for the entire decade. Even now, a production of “Grease” or “Bye Bye Birdie” can scarcely be mounted without one in evidence (source).

I know when I worked as a waitress a 50’s diner in my hometown, we all wore poodle skirts as our uniform. Nothing else was an option.

Further Reading: Mini Guide To Holding The Ultimate 1950’s Themed Party

Butterick Sewing pattern-Children / Youth / Teen Sewing Pattern Girls' Circle Skirt / poodle skirt. Perfect for your next 1950s themed party, sock hop, kids party.

Source: Etsy-FindCraftyPatterns

Further Examples of Juli Lynne Charlot Circle Skirt Creations

1950s Fashion: a 1950s Felt Circle skirt with pink elephants with martini glasses designed by poodle skirt creator Juli Lynne Charlot

The Pink Elephant Circle Skirt-Source: New York Times

Would you like to own a stunning ‘Romeo and Juliet’ 1950s felt circle skirt designed by Juli Lynn Charlot that was ALSO seen on the late Queen Elizabeth II? Well as of the time of this posting, you could!

The story of this skirt & Queen Elizabeth II:

The time was 1951, and the place was Ottawa, where the woman was attending a hoedown at the home of Canada’s governor general. At 25, she had never seen a hoedown, and was tutored privately in its mysteries before the dancing began.

The woman, attired in a steel blue circle skirt by Ms. Charlot appliquéd with hearts, flowering branches and stylized figures of Romeo and Juliet, acquitted herself admirably, according to news reports.

Her name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, and she would be known from the next year on as Queen Elizabeth II (source).

1950s vintage photo of Queen Elizabeth in a Juli Lynn Charlot 1950s Felt Skirt with appliques at a square dance in the 50s
1950s Fashion: A 1950s Circle Skirt with appliques featuring a Romeo and Juliet design by Juli Lynn Charlot, the creator of the poodle skirt.

Source: Etsy-VINTAGEVAVAVOOMZ

Vintage 1950s felt circle skirt with Samba Dancers and Palm Trees.

1950s Fashion: Vintage 1950s Skirt - Authentic Juli Lynne Charlot Felt Circle Skirt with Samba Dancers and Palm Trees - Rio. Juli was the creator of the Poodle Skirt.

Source: Etsy-FabGabs

Chess Game 1950’s felt skirt. All of the appliques are decorated with sequins and beads.

1950s Fashion: Juli Lynne Charlot Chess Game -1950's Felt circle Skirt. Juli was the creator of the Poodle Skirt

Source: 1stdibs.com

Last but not least a Fun Liz fact! I own my own 1950s vintage felt circle skirt that I picked up years ago at an amazing vintage store in Toronto, called ‘Gadabout‘. It has a giant accordion, musical notes and a conductor. It’s a prized possession in my small but mighty vintage clothing collection. Take a look at a video I made of the skirt below (video link).

Liz Note: After looking at the quality of these skirts from this post, I am beginning to wonder if my skirt was a Juli Lynn Charlot design? There is no tag but the skirt is incredibly well made. If anyone knows, please comment below!

@tovintagelizzie I love Accordions! Especially on a 1950s true vintage circle skirt in my collection. 🎶 #1950s #1950sfashion #accordion #vintagetiktok ♬ Music Box Polka – George Staiduhar

Further Reading: Interview with Juli from the Vintage Traveler


Thank you for taking the time to read all about Juli, who was an incredible woman who struck gold with an idea that was just simple in it’s design. I am happy to have been able to of shared her story.

Question Time: Did you wear a poodle skirt / circle skirt? Own one? Hate them, love them? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.

Further Reading from the Vintage Inn Blog (archived posts):

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz