Impressive Fashion Designs by Adele Simpson in the 1940s

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.

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.

Selene Mahri in beautiful off-shoulder evening dress by Adele Simpson, Harper's Bazaar, November 1944

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

Marilyn Ambrose in blue and black print dress of rayon jersey by Adele Simpson, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, 1945

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

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

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

Model in figure-slimming dress in reproduction print of the Bayeux Tapestry by Adele Simpson, Vogue, March 15, 1945

Model in red hostess gown by Adele Simpson, photo by Cecil Beaton, 1945

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

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

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

Model in a tailored dress suit of black rayon moiré by Adele Simpson, Vogue, August 15, 1946

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

Model in lovely evening dress of Everfast Adagio piqué by Adele Simpson, photo by Jerry Plucer, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946

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

"20 Carats" perfume by Dana, dress by Adele Simpson, headdress by Chanda, photo by Serge Balkin - Vogue Studios, Harper's Bazaar, December 1947

Barbara Tullgren in a gold-striped gingham suit by Adele Simpson, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, April 15, 1947

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

Dorian Leigh in ensemble by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, September 1, 1947

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

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

Inga Lindgren in draped dress of Ponemah Spoven fabric by Adele Simpson, photo by Jerry Plucer, Harper's Bazaar, March 1947

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

Model in a Verney rayon dress and jacket by Adele Simpson, photo by Paul D'Ome, Harper's Bazaar, January 1947

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

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

Model in strapless summer evening dress by Adele Simpson, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, 1947

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

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

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

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

Natalie Paine in gray rayon satin surah suit by Adele Simpson, hat by John Frederics, photo by Paul Himmel, Harper's Bazaar, February 1948

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

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

Barbara Mullen is wearing a dress by Adele Simpson, photo by Lillian Bassman for Harper's Bazaar, March 1949

Betty Bridgers in Enka rayon crêpe dress by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings in his apartment, Harper's Bazaar, May 1949

Betty Bridgers in gray taffeta dress with arabesque tucking by Adele Simpson, photo by Toni Frissell, Harper's Bazaar, April 1949

Evelyn Tripp in butterscotch shirtwaist dress of silk crêpe by Adele Simpson, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 1, 1949

Evelyn Tripp in Venetian-red velvet suit by Adele Simpson, jewel by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, September 1, 1949

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