Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Member Directory
  • Support the VFG
  • About
  • Contact
Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Resources
    • Label Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography
    • Fabric Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Determining Fiber
      • Manufactured Fibers Timeline
      • Fabric "Looks Like"
      • Fabric by Fiber
      • Fabric by Use
      • Guide & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography & Acknowledgements
    • Fashion Timeline
    • Fur Resource
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
    • Lingerie Resource
    • Hat Resource
    • Wedding Resource
  • Articles
    • VFG Member Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Care and Cleaning
    • Buying & Selling
      • Quick Tips for Dating Vintage
      • How to Buy Vintage Clothing
      • Clothing Measurement Charts
      • Clothing Condition Chart
    • Featured Designers
    • Garment & Item Specifics
    • Innovation & Techniques
    • Regional Style & Stores
    • Trends & Genres
  • DONATE
  • Forum
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Support Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Join
    • Why Join?
    • VFG Code of Practice
    • Apply for Membership
    • VFG Member Directory
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Label Resource
  • Molyneux

Molyneux

Jul 27, 2010 | by admin | Label Resource | Labels

Captain Edward Molyneux (1891-1974) got his start in fashion when he entered and won a design competition sponsored by Lucile, the London couturiere, in 1911. He went to work for her as a sketcher. In 1914 he joined the British army where he distinguished himself in battle.

After the war he opened his own fashion house in Paris and soon added branches in other French cities as well as London. He was known for clothing that was perfectly tailored and very wearable. During the 1930s he designed elegant evening dresses with matching coats.

Molyneux returned to London during WWII, where he worked designing Utility clothing – garments that met the strict fabric conservation laws that were in place during the war.

He returned to Paris after the war and reopened his couture house. In 1950 Molyneux created a new twist on the American custom of importing French clothing and making copies. In the spring of that year he bought 50 designs from ten American sportswear designers, including Tina Leser, Claire McCardell and Carolyn Schnurer, with the intentions of reproducing them in France. But increasingly poor health caused him to sell his business to his former assistant Jacques Griffe later that year.

He retired to the West Indies, but later opened Studio Molyneux, a high quality ready-to-wear line, in 1964. He retired for good in 1969, however Studio Molyneux continued under the direction of John Tullis until 1977, when it closed.

Label note: Adaptation labels were used not by the designer, but by US firms that were making fashions that were adapted from the designer’s work. Many firms did adaptations, and an adaptation might be a faithful reproduction of the original, or it might be very loosely based on the designer’s work.

Written by fuzzylizzie


from a 1920 dress - Courtesy of dandelion-vintage
from a 1920 dress
Courtesy of dandelion-vintage
from a late 1930s evening dress - Courtesy of kickshawproductions
from a late 1930s evening dress
Courtesy of kickshawproductions
from a 1940s evening gown - Courtesy of ilkit33
from a 1940s evening gown
Courtesy of ilkit33
a 1940s adaptation label - Courtesy of vintagetrend
a 1940s adaptation label
Courtesy of vintagetrend
from a 1960s knit dress  - Courtesy of curlygurly77
from a 1960s knit dress
Courtesy of curlygurly77
from a 1960s suit - Courtesy of curlygurly77
from a 1960s suit
Courtesy of curlygurly77
← previous next →

Question or Comment? Enter it below.

Donate & shop (paid links)

  • Donate button
  • Shop VFG Members Etsy button
  • Shop VFG Members eBay button
  • Amazon shop button
  • Zazzle shop button

VFG Resources

  • Label button
  • Fabric button
  • Lingerie button
  • Fur button
  • Timeline button
  • Hat button
  • Wedding button
  • Care & cleaning button
  • Tips & tricks button

Follow us

Membership

Shop VFG
Why Join
Code of Practice
Apply for Membership

Shop Member Stores

VFG Member Directory
VFG Amazon Shop
VFG Member Books
VFG Book Reviews
VFG on Etsy
VFG on eBay
VFG on Ruby Lane

Resources

The Time Line
Label Resource
Fabric Resource
Lingerie Resource
Fur & Exotics Resource
Hat Resource

Shortcuts

Vintage Inspiration
The VFG Blog
Ways to Say Thank You
About
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

This website and its content including text and images is © copyright Vintage Fashion Guild™ 2022 - All rights reserved
design © 2022 lucid crew
DMCA.com Protection Status