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Doris Dodson

Doris Dodson was a label created by Forest City Manufacturing Company in September 1936.

In 1934, Irving Sorger of the Kline’s department store in St. Louis, surveyed customers and found that young women wanted clothes that differed from what their mothers wore. He identified what would become known as the ‘Junior’ line in fashion and St. Louis became the manufacturing hub of Junior ready-to-wear fashions. Among the many lines created by manufacturers in St. Louis for the ‘Juniors’ market was Forest City Manufacturing Company’s Doris Dodson label. Designers for Doris Dodson over the years included Grace Davile in the late 1930s, and Alice Topp Lee in the 1950s. The Doris Dodson name was trademarked in 1948 and survived until ca. 1968.

Other local manufacturers’ brands included ‘Frances Dexter’, ‘Minx Modes’, ‘Carole King’, ‘Mary Muffitt’, ‘Ellen Kaye’, ‘Paula Brooks’ and ‘Nelly Don’ – created by the Donnelly Garment Company in nearby Kansas City, established in 1916.

Written by kickshawproductions.com

from a 1939 dress - Courtesy of kickshawproductions.con

from a 1939 dress

Courtesy of kickshawproductions.con

from a 1940s dress - Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a 1940s dress

Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a 1950s dress - Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1950s hangtag - Courtesy of thespectrum

from a 1950s hangtag

Courtesy of thespectrum

from a 1939 dress

Courtesy of kickshawproductions.con

from a 1940s dress and jacket set

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1950s hangtag

Courtesy of thespectrum