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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

See vintage Saks Fifth Avenue from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)


from an early 1930s evening cloak - Courtesy of katzoid

from an early 1930s evening cloak

Courtesy of katzoid

from a 1930s opera coat - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1930s opera coat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1930s hat - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1930s hat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1930s hat - Courtesy of neens

from a 1930s hat

Courtesy of neens

from a 1939 couture jacket by Schiaparelli - courtesy of Augusta Auctions

from a 1939 couture jacket by Schiaparelli

courtesy of Augusta Auctions

from a late 1940s evening dress - Courtesy of shopdesignarchives.com

from a late 1940s evening dress

Courtesy of shopdesignarchives.com

from a 1950s dress - Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1950s dress - Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1950s dress

Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1950s hat - Courtesy of Silver Visions Vintage

from a 1950s hat

Courtesy of Silver Visions Vintage

from a 1950s cocktail dress - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s cocktail dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s cabana shirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1950s cabana shirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a late 1950s shirt - Courtesy of amandainvermont

from a late 1950s shirt

Courtesy of amandainvermont

from a late-1950s evening dress - Courtesy of kittenteeth vintage

from a late-1950s evening dress

Courtesy of kittenteeth vintage

from a late-1950s/early-1960s dress - Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a late-1950s/early-1960s dress

Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1960s hat - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s hat

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s party dress - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s party dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s Bill Blass dress - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1960s Bill Blass dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1969 Geoffrey Beene dress - Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from a 1969 Geoffrey Beene dress

Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com

from an early 1970s coat - Courtesy of ikonicvintage

from an early 1970s coat

Courtesy of ikonicvintage

from a 1970s dress - Courtesy of bigchief173

from a 1970s dress

Courtesy of bigchief173

from a 1970s maxi dress - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1970s maxi dress

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s skirt - Courtesy of the.hippie.hideout

from a 1980s skirt

Courtesy of the.hippie.hideout

from a 1980s blouse - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s blouse

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a pair of 1980s pants - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a pair of 1980s pants

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a pair of 1980s pants - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a pair of 1980s pants

Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from a 1980s skirt - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from a 1980s skirt

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 1990s garment - Courtesy of ikonicvintage

from an early 1990s garment

Courtesy of ikonicvintage

from an early 2000s men's blazer - Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage

from an early 2000s men’s blazer

Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage