Elizabeth Arden (1884-1966) was born Florence Nightingale Graham in Canada, but moved to the USA at age thirty to work in the beauty industry. She used her nursing training to create skin creams. Although primarily famous for her cosmetic and fragrance lines, she also created a clothing line comprising both couture and exclusive ready-to-wear. Her Fifth Avenue New York salon, famous for its lipstick red front door, opened in 1910.
In the 1940s she employed Charles James for a brief but stormy period before she fired him. Her in-house designer from 1945-1950 was Antonio Castillo, followed by Ferdinando Sarmi. In 1963, Oscar de la Renta became chief in-house designer. Elizabeth Arden Boutiques were open through the 1980s.
Written by artisannes
from a late 1940s gown
Courtesy of Monica Murgia
from a 1950s cocktail dress
Courtesy of artisannes
from a 1950s dress
Courtesy of avamac
from an early 1960s dress
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a 1960s dress
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com
from a late 1970s evening ensemble
Courtesy of bartondoll
