SKU: 52794369850

"Charles James: Architect Of Fashion- From The Wardrobe Of Lisa Kirk & The Collections Of Homer Layne & FIT"

Sale price$135.00 Regular price$150.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $37.50 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 20 - Aug 25

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

"Charles James: Architect Of Fashion- From The Wardrobe Of Lisa Kirk & The Collections Of Homer Layne & FIT"11 1 2" x 8 1 2" (menu size) Cover artwork by 'Antonio' Lopez FIT Exhibition March 23 May 1, 1993 w 11" x 4 1 4" folding [4] pp. card laid In w the (55) CJ lots featured [2] pp. Scroll Down for (2) Additional Scans: Charles James (1906 1978) was a designers designer. Although greatly admired by other couturiers, such as Christian Dior and Jacques Fath, he was unknown to the public at large. Indeed, he was often on the verge of bankruptcy, despite

11 1/2" x 8 1/2" (menu size)
Cover artwork by 'Antonio' Lopez

FIT Exhibition March 23 - May 1, 1993

w/ 11" x 4 1/4" folding [4] pp. card laid-In w/ the (55) CJ lots featured 

[2] pp.

Scroll Down for (2) Additional Scans:

Charles James (1906-1978) was a designer’s designer. Although greatly admired by other couturiers, such as Christian Dior and Jacques Fath, he was unknown to the public at large. Indeed, he was often on the verge of bankruptcy, despite creating expensive clothes for some of the world’s most discriminating clients, such as Mrs. Randolph Hearst and Millicent Rogers. A brilliant designer, but a difficult and tormented personality, he made fewer than 1000 garments over the course of a 50-year career. There are many stories of his eccentricities: once, for example, two clients wanted the same dress, so—like King Solomon—he cut it in half. The extreme rarity and originality of his existing garments makes them among the most valuable objects in museum costume collections.

Born in England, James began his career as a milliner in Chicago, working under the name Charles Boucheron. Then he moved to New York, where he also began designing dresses. The influence of millinery can be seen in the way he juxtaposed rigid geometrical forms and fluid folds. Many couturiers of the 1950s incorporated boning and padding into their dresses, but James went much further, often creating an elaborate infrastructure, encasing the wearer’s torso. A virtuoso with fabric, he would then create a superstructure of artfully-draped silk and satin. James is best-known for the intricately-cut, often asymmetrical ball gowns that he designed in the 1940s and 1950s, which sold at the time for about $1500, and can easily fetch 100 times that figure today. A fashion journalist described one evening gown as “so intricately shaped, so marvelously massed into drapery that every angle presents a new silhouette.” The Museum at FIT owns several gowns that James designed for the performer, Lisa Kirk, as well as a beautiful example of his most famous dress, the Abstract or Four-Leaf Clover ball gown. His quilted, padded evening jackets are also justly famous. Although best known for his ability to “sculpt” with fabric, James was also a brilliant colorist, masterfully juxtaposing unexpected colors, such as golden yellow and ice blue.
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 52794369850

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 13 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
L
LBZ
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Commercial grade divider suitable for many needs
Color: Beige, Size: A-132''W-6 Panel
This item will be used at a future event where we need to separate a single locker room into two large areas, without any construction. This divider is perfect for the job because the partitions can be 1 to 6 panels and it will roll into place. When the event is over, the divider will fold/roll away and the locker room will return to its original design. The unit is very heavy, which will ensure that it is sturdy and stable. All the components arrived, wrapped in plastic to prevent damage. The screen material is a woven polyester in a cream color that will occlude any visibility but it may be possible to see shadows on the opposite side. The height is about 6ft, which would require a very tall person to "peep over" the divider. I needed a quality unit for this project and the frame, screens, and mobility will meet the needs. The divider is not the same as the small decorative dividers -- it is more of a commercial grade product, yet tasteful. If you want/need a small divider as an accent piece, this is not the best choice. This item could be used in a medical office, treatment/massage room, to divide an office room into two, or block a hallway in a building.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Mr. Ruiz
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 2
Flimsy
Color: Grey, Size: B-88''W-4 Panel
Would not recommend
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026
K
Karen A.
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Great option for a professional looking backdrop
Color: Black, Size: B-102''-3 Panel
I decided to try these wall dividers for my home office space since it does not have a door. I wanted to have my video calls without the rest of the room in the feed to give it a more professional feel. These being on castors make them super easy to move into position and roll off to the side when not in use. They are stable, much more than the folding screens I have tried in the past. That they are connected by the middle piece and not the top/bottom of each other allows you to adjust the positioning to your needs. Overall, this did exactly what I needed and was an affordable option. I also like that they are highly portable: if you want to take them for a booth or event, the poles all disassemble into manageable lengths that easily fit in a car and take very little time to set up again. The only thing I would change is to include a bag to store them in for transportation.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2025
B
Verified Purchase
Barbara McCloud
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice and strong
Color: Black, Size: Wheel-6 Panel
Nice and strong, tedious, putting together, but very good quality
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Al Tompkins
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
if you are going to be moving them a lot, buy something more sturdy.
Color: Black, Size: Wheel-6 Panel
I use these at our churchc. They are pretty good, not terribly study and the screw that hold the faabric have pulled out in a couple of places. But they wqould work especially well if you were not constantly moving them as we do. They are a bit of a pain to assemble.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026

recommand products