In 1942, at a time when fabric shortages had severely crippled the garment trade, Rosenfeld began a business with $40,000 and quickly parlayed it into a $30-million-a-year line he described as a “class-market dress at mass-market prices.” Women who could afford much more than his $9 to $25 dresses found themselves wearing them because of their style and workmanship. Reference: Los Angeles Times

Below are some examples and price guides of fashion by Henry Rosenfeld including a vintage 1940’s dress and a black leather handbag.

Vintage 1940’s Henry Rosenfeld Taffeta & Velvet Party Dress, elbow length sleeves, square neck with black velvet and tassel trim collar, blue plaid taffeta blend, flared pleated skirt, side metal zipper, Approx. 36″ Bust, 27″ Waist, seam repair needed on right upper sleeve

Sold for US$120 at Denise Ryan Auctions in 2022

Henry Rosenfeld 50s black leather rectangular handbag with gold tone corner embellishments with four internal pockets and one zippered pocket 12″ H x 8″ W, 6″ drop

Sold for US$60 at Ripley Auctions in 2021

Vintage 1950s Henry Rosenfeld Floral Full Swing Day Dress. Excellent condition with minor wear and tear. Sheer with no lining. Zipper in the back for closure.

Sold for US$50 at Vintage World Rocks LLC in 2017

50’s Black Velvet Dress – Size 4

This is a gorgeous vintage 1950’s black velvet wiggle dress by designer Henry Rosenfeld. The dress has measurements close to that of a modern size 4 to 6 .There is a long silver tone metal zipper along the left side seam. It is a fairly long and fitted dress that has a slimming appearance. Measurements: Bust 37″, Waist 27″, Hips 40″, Length 47″.

Sold for US$40 at Coastal Auction House in 2019

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She provided costumes for a number of movies including Obsession, The Scheming Women, Napoleon Road, The Millionaire Tramp, The Gay Adventure, Memorable Eyes, By the Window, A Ghost, Jean of the Moon, and L’Arpete. Perfumes launched by Germaine Lecomte included Love Witch and Party Night. Maurice Chevalier sang a commercial about Party Night. She died on the 1st October 1966 in Paris. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples and price guides of vintage clothes by the designer Germaine Lecompte including a black velvet evening gown.

GERMAINE LECOMTE FLAMENCO INSPIRED EVENING GOWN, PARIS, LATE 1940s

Flamenco inspired strapless evening gown of black lace over cream silk w/ broad scarlet velvet fitted bodice, shaped hip flounce w/ deep V at CF & CB, floor length full circular skirt w/ appliqued tiered bands of black lace, label “Germaine Lecomte, Paris”, B 35″, W 25″, L 53″-57″, (large broad staining, wear to lace & mesh at hemline, 0.5″ hole right back, zipper tarnished) good.

Sold for US$475 at Augusta Auctions in 2022

A Germaine Lecomte couture black velvet evening gown, early 1930s, black on ivory woven label, no.01454, the bolduc bearing the client name ‘Perkins’, with ermine-edged peplum with side ties to the waist, godets to give flare to the hem, bust 92cm, 36in

Sold for £700 at Kerry Taylor Auctions in 2018

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The Spritzer & Fuhrmann group was a household name in the last century, not only in the Antilles, but also in many other countries. At the height of their existence, the company employed 32 businesses and more than 500 people.
In addition to the extensive jewelry and watch collection, she was also known for the beautiful collection of crystal and porcelain from the best European brands, such as: Daum, Lalique, Orefors and Wedgewood. In addition to the jewelery and gift shops, there were the optics shops, an own goldsmith shop, watch repairs and the decoration department where, among other things, the packaging material was made, such as the exceptionally beautiful boxes and boxes for gifts to the royal family and other guests of the island. A permanent staff was employed for the display and shop windows, which managed to win various prizes. Reference: The Archive Friend

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Balenciaga S.A. is luxury fashion house brand owned by the French multinational company Kering. It was originally founded in Spain by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a designer born in Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as “the master of us all” by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet “modernistic silhouettes” became the trademarks of the house.

Cristóbal opened his first boutique in San Sebastián, Spain, in 1917, which expanded to include branches in Madrid and Barcelona. The Spanish royal family and the aristocracy wore his designs, but when the Spanish Civil War forced him to close his stores, the company moved to Paris. Reference: Wikipedia

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Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels, founded Van Cleef and Arpels. in 1896. In 1906, following Arpels’s death, Alfred and two of his brothers-in-law, Charles and Julien, acquired space for them at 22 Place Vendôme, across from the Hôtel Ritz, where they opened their first boutique shop. The third Arpels brother, Louis, soon joined the company.

The company opened boutiques in holiday resorts such as Deauville, Vichy, Le Touquet, Nice, and Monte-Carlo. In 1925, one of their bracelets with red and white roses fashioned from rubies and diamonds won the grand prize at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts.

Alfred and Esther’s daughter, Renée (born Rachel) Puissant, assumed the company’s artistic direction in 1926. Puissant worked closely with draftsman René Sim Lacaze for the next twenty years. They were the first French jewelers to open boutiques in Japan and China. Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A. acquired the firm in 1999.

In 1966, the company was charged with the task of making the crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi for her upcoming coronation in 1967. A team was sent to Iran to choose the major gems to use for the crown. After 11 months of work, the company presented the empress with a crown made of emerald velvet set with 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, 105 pearls and 1,469 diamonds. Reference: Wikipedia

They first opened a New York branch in October 1929. The stock market crash made this a short-lived venture but ten years later, following the New York World’s Fair, they re-established their presence in New York. Reference: The Victoria and Albert Museum

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