Adele Simpson (1903–1995) was an American fashion designer with a successful career that spanned nearly five decades, as well as a child performer in vaudeville who danced in productions with Milton Berle and other entertainers.
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Fashion designs by Adele Simpson in the 1940s |
Born Adele Smithline in New York City, Simpson was the fifth daughter born to Latvian immigrants. At 21, she completed her design curriculum at the Pratt Institute. She took the place of her older sister, Anna, as head designer for Ben Gershel, which was a prominent 7th Avenue ready-to-wear fashion house. Some years later, Simpson began work for Mary Lee, a business also based on 7th Avenue which she bought in 1949 and renamed Adele Simpson Inc. She introduced her medium-priced line of clothing in New York the same year.
Like many other American fashion designers who worked within a manufacturing context in New York’s Garment District, earlier in her career, Simpson adapted French couture and presented it with an American ready-to-wear translation.
Simpson continued to design into her 70s before she retired in 1985. Her daughter, Joan Raines, and her son-in-law, Richard Raines, maintained the business prior to selling out to Barron Peters in 1991. Based in Lowell, Massachusetts, the firm chose not to continue the Adele Simpson line. Barron Peters later filed for bankruptcy.
Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Adele Simpson in the 1940s.
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Selene Mahri in beautiful off-shoulder evening dress by Adele Simpson, Harper's Bazaar, November 1944 |
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Lisa Fonssagrives in dramatic short dinner dress of Enka rayon-crêpe by Adele Simpson, hat by John Frederics, photo by George Platt Lynes, Harper's Bazaar, September 1945 |
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Marilyn Ambrose in blue and black print dress of rayon jersey by Adele Simpson, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, 1945 |
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Model in a Hockanum wool suit in unbeatable navy with rayon-crêpe blouse in crimson and white by Adele Simpson, hat by Sally Victor, jewelry by John Rubel, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Harper's Bazaar, February 1945 |
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Model in a two-piece suit with a plaid top and rayon skirt by Adele Simpson at J.P.Allen & Co., Vogue, April 1, 1945 |
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Model in elegant, single shoulder Enka rayon Marcel Vertès print dress by Adele Simpson, jewelry by Nina Wolf, photo by Herman Landshoff, Harper's Bazaar, June 1945 |
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Model in figure-slimming dress in reproduction print of the Bayeux Tapestry by Adele Simpson, Vogue, March 15, 1945 |
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Model in red hostess gown by Adele Simpson, photo by Cecil Beaton, 1945 |
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Bobby Munroe in gray chambray dress, backless, with a great shawl to cover up by Adele Simpson, gold shoes by Barefoot Originals, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, May 1946 |
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Jessica Patton Barkentin in black, lightweight wool bolero suit over a print blouse by Adele Simpson, hat by Betmar, photo by Genevieve Naylor at the Whitney Museum, Harper's Bazaar, February 1946 |
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June Vincent in black-and-white checked gingham dress, tiny checked bows are massed over the bosom to form a wide ruffled band by Adele Simpson, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946 |
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Model in a tailored dress suit of black rayon moiré by Adele Simpson, Vogue, August 15, 1946 |
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Model in black satin strapless gown with red rose detail at the hip by Adele Simpson, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1946 |
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Model in lovely evening dress of Everfast Adagio piqué by Adele Simpson, photo by Jerry Plucer, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946 |
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Model in pretty sparkling clean white cotton coat embroidered with eyelet daisies buttoned at the small round collar by Adele Simpson, Kodachrome by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946 |
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"20 Carats" perfume by Dana, dress by Adele Simpson, headdress by Chanda, photo by Serge Balkin - Vogue Studios, Harper's Bazaar, December 1947 |
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Barbara Tullgren in a gold-striped gingham suit by Adele Simpson, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, April 15, 1947 |
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Betty Threatt in after-five suit of rayon-satin with tiny jacket and dipping skirt by Adele Simpson, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, September 1947 |
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Dorian Leigh in ensemble by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, September 1, 1947 |
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Dorian Leigh in the new-length dress, 8 inches off the floor, in draped rayon-crêpe by Adele Simpson, pink topaz pin by John Rubel, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, March 15, 1947 |
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Dorian Leigh in white wool gabardine jacket and navy blue wool skirt by Adele Simpson, plaid roller and matching bag by John Frederics, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, January 15, 1947 |
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Inga Lindgren in draped dress of Ponemah Spoven fabric by Adele Simpson, photo by Jerry Plucer, Harper's Bazaar, March 1947 |
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Joan Pedersen in lovely dinner dress of pure silk black crêpe, with shirring at the bosom and wide skirt by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, November 15, 1947 |
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Model in a Verney rayon dress and jacket by Adele Simpson, photo by Paul D'Ome, Harper's Bazaar, January 1947 |
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Model in dark brown waistcoat jacket over a slim skirt in a lighter brown shade by Adele Simpson, beaver-faced felt hat, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, September 1, 1947 |
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Model in Forstmann wool broadcloth jacket slanting in to the hips, the narrow skirt slanting in to the ankles by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, November 1, 1947 |
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Model in strapless summer evening dress by Adele Simpson, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, 1947 |
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Model wearing white organdy petticoat with border of green dots intended to be glimpsed under a skirt by Adele Simpson, photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt, New York, 1947 |
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Dorian Leigh in chambray dress woven with taffeta, pleats tucked and sewn to pleat by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, April 1, 1948 |
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Dorian Leigh in creamy silk shantung dress woven on a Jacquard loom in a Chinese cash pattern by Adele Simpson, hat by John Frederics, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, May 1, 1948 |
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Model in pink chambray strapless dress that can be worn over a full-length petticoat of dotted Swiss muslin as shown here, by Adele Simpson, photo by Kay Bell, Harper's Bazaar, May 1948 |
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Natalie Paine in gray rayon satin surah suit by Adele Simpson, hat by John Frederics, photo by Paul Himmel, Harper's Bazaar, February 1948 |
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Ricki VanDusen in Onondaga rayon silk dress woven with with ducks in flight by Adele Simpson, Kodachrome by John Rawlings, Harper's Bazaar, July 1948 |
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Sandra Nelson in summery natural silk shantung two-piece suit buttoned by twos with full skirt by Adele Simpson, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 15, 1948 |
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Barbara Mullen is wearing a dress by Adele Simpson, photo by Lillian Bassman for Harper's Bazaar, March 1949 |
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Betty Bridgers in Enka rayon crêpe dress by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings in his apartment, Harper's Bazaar, May 1949 |
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Betty Bridgers in gray taffeta dress with arabesque tucking by Adele Simpson, photo by Toni Frissell, Harper's Bazaar, April 1949 |
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Evelyn Tripp in butterscotch shirtwaist dress of silk crêpe by Adele Simpson, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 1, 1949 |
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Evelyn Tripp in Venetian-red velvet suit by Adele Simpson, jewel by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, September 1, 1949 |
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Model in butterscotch-colored jacket of a tweedy pineapple-fibre fabric over a linen dress in a darker shade by Adele Simpson, hat by Madcaps, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 1, 1949 |
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