1950s Hattie Carnegie Silk Floral Print Watercolor Nipped Waist Dress

From the early 1950s comes this heavenly silk dress by Hattie Carnegie. Its nipped-waist silhouette is the perfect canvas for the gorgeous watercolor print that unfolds upon it: a blanket of pretty peonies in shades of pink, gray, white, lavender and, of course, Carnegie blue.

“My clothes are built to show off the woman who wears them,” the American designer once said. “I like them to be simple—complicated and simple—to move well, to move with the times and a little ahead of them.” Still stunning today, this vintage treasure is a reflection of her philosophy—and a ladylike option for so many occasions, from a springtime luncheon to a summertime wedding or garden party.

Measurements

Size estimate: XS/S

Bust: 32 inches

Waist: 24 inches

Hips: 34 inches

Length: 42 inches

This vintage Hattie Carnegie dress from the early 1950s is in excellent condition. It is tailored from a silk watercolor floral print in shades of pink, gray, white, lavender and Carnegie blue. The knee-length silhouette has a fitted sleeveless bodice, a nipped waistline and a skirt with fullness formed from a pair of soft reverse pleats in the front and back.

This dress has a silk lining and a metal zipper back closure. It has been professionally dry-cleaned and pressed. High-quality vintage pieces like this are yours to live in and love while increasing in value every year. It’s never too soon to start collecting them, as an investment in your wardrobe—and in yourself.