Saks Fifth Avenue was started as a joint venture between two of the largest retail establishments in New York City – Saks and Co. and Gimbels. The store was opened in 1924, and from the beginning it offered the highest quality clothing for men and women. Originally the store was supervised by Horace Saks but after his death in 1926 Adam Gimbel was made president of the company. He headed Saks until 1969.
By 1931, the in-house designer was Sophie Gimbel, Adam Gimbel’s wife. She designed under the label Sophie Originals. Saks’ high-end department, Salon Moderne, carried Sophie’s in-house designs as well as fashions from Paris by Louiseboulanger, Chanel, Vionnet, Patou, Schiaperelli, Agnes, Reboux and Callot Soeurs.
In the 1970s, the couture and custom salons were closed, as well as the millinery departments. Saks stores were built across the country, but without the level of customer service that had been available at the New York store during the Adam Gimbel days. In 1998, Saks merged with Proffitt’s department store chain.
Written by pastperfectvintage.com
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from an early 1930s evening cloak
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from a 1930s opera coat
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from a 1930s hat
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from a 1930s hat
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from a 1939 couture jacket by Schiaparelli
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from a late 1940s evening dress
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from a 1950s dress
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from a 1950s dress
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from a 1950s hat
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from a 1950s cabana shirt
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from a late 1950s shirt
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from a late-1950s evening dress
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from a late-1950s/early-1960s dress
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from a 1960s hat
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from a 1960s party dress
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from a 1960s Bill Blass dress
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from a 1969 Geoffrey Beene dress
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from an early 1970s coat
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from a 1970s dress
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from a 1970s maxi dress
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from a 1980s skirt
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from a pair of 1980s pants
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from a pair of 1980s pants
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from a 1980s blouse
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from a 1980s skirt
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