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 a 1930s opera coat
Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage
from a 1930s hat
Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage
from a 1930s hat
Courtesy of neens
from a 1939 couture jacket by Schiaparelli
courtesy of Augusta Auctions
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 hat
Courtesy of Silver Visions Vintage
from a 1950s cocktail dress
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 evening dress
Courtesy of kittenteeth vintage
from a late-1950s/early-1960s dress
Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com
from a 1960s hat
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 1969 Geoffrey Beene dress
Courtesy of coutureallurevintage.com
from an early 1970s coat
Courtesy of ikonicvintage
from a 1970s dress
Courtesy of bigchief173
from a 1970s maxi dress
Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage
from a 1980s skirt
Courtesy of the.hippie.hideout
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 1980s skirt
Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage
from an early 1990s garment
Courtesy of ikonicvintage
from an early 2000s men’s blazer
Courtesy of Ranch Queen Vintage
