Irene Lentz (1901-1962) was born in South Dakota and as a young woman she went to Hollywood, where she found work as an extra at MGM. She ended up taking design classes and opened a small dress shop. After the death of her husband in 1930, Irene left California for Europe, where she lived in Paris for several months.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Irene opened another dress shop and she became a popular dressmaker to the stars. In 1935 she started doing custom work through Bullock’s Wilshire, a Los Angeles department store.
Irene had done freelance design work at RKO Studios off and on since 1932 and in 1942 she replaced Adrian at MGM. In 1947, she established her line of ready-to-wear, continuing at MGM until 1949. Many of her designs were produced exclusively for department stores around the country and her label was a huge success. She was best known for her feminine suits and dresses. Irene died in 1962, but the business continued under the design of Hubert Latimer until 1970.
See also: Irene
Written by fuzzylizzie
label used from 1947-1962, with and w/o store name
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1948-1952 jacket
Courtesy of Augusta Auctions
from an early 1950s dress
Courtesy of dorotheascloset.com
from a 1952 jacket
Courtesy of Augusta Auctions
from a 1950s skirt suit
Courtesy of Augusta Auctions
from a 1950s dress
Courtesy of coutureallure.com
from a 1960s dress suit
Courtesy of claireshaeffer
from a 1960s dress
Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans
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