Posted 14 years ago
betarich51
(1 item)
I found this dress watered down, dirty, and wrinkled in a estate sale. I thought I can make a nice quilt out of it. So, I bought it and the lady asked me what am I going to do with this old dress. So, I told her what's in my mind. Brought it to work ,stared at it and I was about to cut it in pieces when I told myself, wow this is my size. I turned it inside out and found the tag. Went to my computer and googled the guy. I did'nt know him. To my surprise Alfred Shaheen was one of the most prominent designer from Hawaii. I brought it to the cleaners and wore it asap, I love it, my boyfriend loves it and suggested, I should keep it. Yesterday, I showed it to my best friend Phaisee and she told me, the fabric print is a BLUE WILLOW design and she confirmed that the dress was made in the 1950's.
Anybody out there who knows about this dress, Please tell me.
If you havent seen it, this is a pretty good site on Alfred Shaheen:
http://www.alfredshaheen.com/
Also maybe some good background on this Hawaiian shirts page:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/mens-clothing/hawaiian-shirts
Thank you Potrero. I went to those 2 sites and I sure did found an exact design although different fabric and print under women's vintage clothing. My dress is surely a vintage. Love it. Beth
Don't know if you're on the West Coast or not but currently there's an exhibit "Hawaii's Alfred Shaheen Fabric to Fashion" at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. I went to the opening with several friends and the dresses, shirts, and fabrics just blew me away. Visitors to the museum were wearing their own Shaheen duds. Material for the exhibit came from Mr. Shaheen's daughter. If you have a chance to see this exhibit before it closes, don't miss it!
Eeek! So glad you decided against cutting up a genuine Alfred Shaheen design. Your find is fabulous! I'd strongly urge anyone not to tamper with this kind of vintage garment unless there's something terribly wrong with it. It looks beautiful on you. :)
You'll find lots of information about designers at the Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource at http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/component/option,com_alphacontent/Itemid,100/
Alfred Shaheen information can be found here:
http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/component/option,com_alphacontent/section,6/cat,59/task,view/id,537/Itemid,100/
You look beautiful in it. I'm so glad you got it cleaned and can enjoy it.
Thank you very much to ahumin and catwalk vintage. I am so delighted of your wonderful comments.