Measurements

Size: Small - Large

Coat

Bust: Up to 44 inches + 112 cm

Outside Shoulder to Outside Shoulder: 15 inches + 38 cm

Total Length from Outside Shoulder: 41 inches + 104 cm

Sleeve Length from Outside Shoulder: 23 inches + 58 cm

Hem Length : 1.5 inches + 2.5 cm

Closures: None clutch style

Seam Allowance: unseen

Note: Measurements are taken from outside, flat and stretched from seam to seam. This is the maximum size allowable, so please consider individual fit and comfort.

Description

* Late 1950s to early 1960s burgundy coat

* Fabric is Marvella wool from the Fortsans Woolens Company

* Classic silhouette with an A-line frame

* Clutch coat with no closures

* Wide turnover knicked collar

* Slash pockets at each side front

* Inset long sleeves

* Fully lined in burgundy fabric

* Labesl read Hess Brothers and a Fortsmann Fabric

Hess Brothers

The department store known as Hess Brothers was founded on February 19, 1897, by Charles and Max Hess. It became renowned for his opulent furnishings, extravagant entertainment and the quality of the goods offered for sale.

This predisposition towards luxurious settings also extended to their own residences. In the mid-1940s, Max Junior and his wife moved to Livingston Street in Allentown, which became known as the Hess Mansion. Hess transformed the property into an image of the grand houses of Beverly Hills. The mansion included three fireplaces, an elevator, formal dining room, guest quarters, fully furnished basement complete with nightclub, and a pool house with a sauna. The couple gave lavish parties, to which Hollywood stars such as Bob Hope and Zsa Zsa Gabor were invited, or often paid, to attend. The Hess gatherings became the stuff of legends. For one party, Hess is said to have transformed the home into a jungle that included live alligators in the swimming pool.

Max Jnr was seen as a leader in retailing. In the 1953 B.C. Forbes & Sons book, America’s Twelve Master Salesmen, Hess is listed as the second master salesman. According to this book, his principle was, 'strive for a specific goal'. Under the store motto, "be best, be first, be entertaining", Hess Brothers became known for more than just their merchandise. Celebrities were brought in on a regular basis to attract customers and enhance the image of the store. Flamboyance and excitement were the department store's cornerstones. The Patio, the store's restaurant, was renowned for its 150-item menu . As people dined, models would walk the floor wearing the latest fashions. The restaurant lost close to $20,000 a year but it was an enormous success in achieving its primary purpose of keeping customers in the store. Magnificent crystal chandeliers graced the main hall and many windows allowed natural light to fill the store. It was also the first store in the world to have automatic talking elevators, telling its passengers what items were available on each floor.

Perhaps the best example was the French Room. Created by Charles Hess in the early days of the store, he filled it with fashions primarily from France. He also made frequent trips to Paris, and via Allentown newspaper articles, he wrote what the fashionable woman in the French capitol was wearing for social engagements or to the Paris Opera. Neverthless the real core of the Hess brothers success was the ability to offer the public quality goods at affordable prices.'

As time went on stiff competition from retail stores and the enormous costs of keeping the enterprise running, saw it lose more and more revenue. This culminated with the eventual sale of the main Allentown store in 1994, ending the Hess's 97-year enterprise.

The Forstmann Woolens Company

Forstmann Woolens Company was founded in 1904 by German entrepeneurs who came from a long line of prosperous and skilled woolworkers dating back to 1563. The Forstmanns were descended from one of the original members of the Weavers Guild, the oldest of guilds which had been established during medieval times by artisans to form merchant guilds to protect and maintain the high standards of their crafts.

The fledgling company became prosperous as the demand for quality wool continued to create a large market for fine fabrics. Over the years, Forstmann promoted its fabrics widely in full-color ads in big city newspapers and magazines such as Life. Strict company policy guarded its patterns and designs through patents. Forstmann fabrics were a favorite with consumers during the 1920s-50s with such brand names as Charmeen, a fine worsted steep twill; Marvella, a high-quality wool pile bolivia; and Milateen, a heavier version of Charmeen. There were many other patented lesser-known fabrics as well.

Condition

Excellent vintage condition.

No notable flaws that I can see, other than a tiny abrasion (not a hole) on one sleeve - as seen in last photograph.

Please note that these are vintage items that have been used and loved over the years, As such, they may display slight evidence of their age. Any notable flaws will be highlighted here.

Comment

Stunning coat in a rich burgundy tone. The fabric is soft to the touch and of the highest quality - so is the impeccable styling. Please drop us a line if you require additional information about this listing.

The listing is for the dress only and does not include any other accessories that may have been photographed with the item.

This item has not been pinned to the dress form.

Shop Policies

COVID-19

Unfortunately, the pandemic has resulted in a backlog of parcels worldwide. Our local Postal Service continues to operate at increased capacity and assures us that packages will arrive at their destination, albeit with a noticeably longer timeframe.

We now offer an alternate express delivery service via DHL for those of you who want your packages more expediently. This option is currently delivering packages within a seven-day timeframe from pick-up.

Postage
We make every effort to post your item within 1-3 days of payment. Should a circumstance arise where we are unable to post within this timeframe (eg we are away at a fair) we will contact you immediately. Please note that our postage charges are based on standard international and domestic air packages - all with tracking. If you want to upgrade to express postage or require insurance, please contact us prior to checkout and we will adjust the rates accordingly.

Currently, standard packages within Australia are taking 4 to 6 business days from receipt of the package at the Post Office. However, there may be exceptions due to the impact of COVID-19.

Availability
This item is within our selling stock. In the unlikely event that two buyers purchase this item concurrently, payment will be immediately refunded to the latter purchaser. We apologize in advance should this rare circumstance arise.

Postage
We make every effort to post your item within 1-3 days of payment. Should a circumstance arise where we are unable to post within this timeframe (eg we are away at a fair) we will contact you immediately. Please note that our postage charges are based on standard international and domestic air packages - all with tracking. If you want to upgrade to express postage or require insurance, please contact us prior to checkout and we will adjust the rates accordingly.

Currently, standard packages within Australia are taking 4 to 6 business days from receipt of the package at the Post Office. However, there may be exceptions due to the impact of COVID-19.

LayBys/Layaways
Yes we do offer flexible layby/layaway options and are open to negotiation as to the time period. Obviously, the more expensive the item the longer the time you will have to finalise payment. Contact us to see how accommodating we can be :)

Alterations
Obviously, as these are one-off pieces, the fit may not be quite what you need. To this end, we also offer an alteration service by professional seamstresses. Please shoot us an email outlining what you want and we will quickly respond with a quote and timeframe. Costs are kept to a minimum for this service.

Special Orders
If you are looking for something that you don't currently find in our shop - let us know we may be able to help you with a special listing!

Photography
Our photos are taken with a mix of studio and ambient lighting. Whilst we take care with the colour balance of our photos, individual computer monitors register colours differently depending on their calibration. If you want the exact colour shade drop us a line and we will give you the Universal Pantone colours that match the item.

Vintage Late 1950s to Early 1960s Burgundy Coat - NEW!