The VFG believes that informed selling and buying communities are good for the vintage-fashion industry as a whole, and all visitors to the website have access to the VFG resources. These are continually updated and constantly evolving, thanks to a dedicated volunteer staff.
Our blog features our picks of the freshest vintage items, member news and articles. We have also created a growing series of articles on some classic designers.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of vintage fashion.
The Vintage Fashion Guild™ (VFG) is an international community of people with expertise in vintage fashion. VFG members enjoy a wealth of resources, avenues for promoting their shops and specialties, and camaraderie with others who share a common interest and passion.
A native of Minnesota, Louise Norton Mulligan was born c. 1911. After an early marriage and some college work, in 1932 she started as an assistant/ handy girl at her aunt Mary L Cartwright’s Cartwright Company, a dress manufacturer in Minneapolis. She advanced to designer there, specializing in Junior fashions for college age women.
Mulligan began her own firm and label in Chicago in 1935, with factories there and selling around the country. By 1939, she was based in New York at 498 7th Avenue and was a member of the Fashion Originator’s Guild. Mulligan advertised extensively in college towns and even college newspapers. She continued with her own line until 1945, when she became the head designer at Carlye.
Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans
Courtesy of Hollis Jenkins-Evans
from a mid-1930s suit
from a late-1930s early-1940s evening gown