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1930s Hollywood Movie Actress & Designer Barbara Barondess MacLean Black Quilted Suit

Here is a rare example of a fashion design by Barbara Barondess MacLean. She was an actress in the early 1930s and was in many films with such stars of the era as jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette McDonald and Ginger Rodgers. She also was one of the founding members of the Screen Actors Guild. After a career in the movies she became an interior designer in 1938 and also designed fabrics for Shoemacher and clothes for the "David Crystal" firm. She designed clothes for a short period of time - for only 5 years. This same suit also has been acquisitioned by the Texas Fashion Collection at the University of North Texas and is part of their permanent collection. She wrote her autobiography in 1986 titled ""One Life Is Not Enough". A copy of this book will be included with this suit. If you scroll down the page you will see a photo of Ginger Rodgers in a studio publicity shot wearing a suit designed by Orry-Kelly. This suit is very similar to this one designed by Barbara Barondess. Same use of quilted fabric, jacket design and styling. Possibly she was inspired by Orry-Kelly's design of that Hollywood suit. This is a rare piece, as Barbara Barondess designed only for a very short period of time. This would make a wonderful addition to a vintage clothing collection.

This suit is circa 1940s and is in excellent condition. It is a black cotton quilted suit with the jacket having a wide pointed collar, fitted darts at the waistline for a contour fit, and a flared peplum. Sleeves are long and may be worn upturned at the cuff, or also for a variation in the look of the sleeve they can be worn down. The jacket closes with simple hook and eyes. Matching non-quitted black fabric is used as piping around the edges of the collar, down the front of the jacket and along the edges of the peplum. The skirt consists of yards and yards of fabric as the skirt will make a complete circle. Perfect for those nights of dancing and twirling on the dance floor. There is a three inch wide waistband on the skirt with a zipper down the back for closure. Superb collector piece of fashion history.

SOLD

Order Item Number: 0000-67

JACKET

• Bust: 36"
• Waist: 28"
• Hips: Full and free
• Shoulder seam to shoulder seam: 18"
• Length from shoulder to waistline: 18"
• Sleeve from shoulder seam to cuff turned down: 21"

  SKIRT

• Waist: 26"
• Length of skirt: 35"
• Zipper: 6" long metal zipper down back of skirt