Petti Pictures--Designers (Page 12)

Ann Fogarty

(L) Rhino sends this great picture
from Ann Fogarty's collection
...and at right prepping for a show (1951)
Photo by Nina Leen for Life magazine

A charmingly simple Anne Fogarty design from
The Era, marketed by Gracette
from a feature article in an unidentified magazine

TEXT:

Extravagantly full white cotton petticoat.
Sizes 7 to 15, 24 to 28, about $9.00

Camisole-bra by Gassard in embroidered eyelet cotton.
Sizes 30 to 36 A cup, 32 to 38 B cup, 32 to 40 C cup. About $5.00

Fifties fashion designer Anne Fogarty, an icon of The Era, was dubbed "Petticoat Queen" for her advocacy of the flared and bouffant skirt. In her book Wife Dressing (1959), she relates a story concerning her husband’s bout with these beautiful creations. She came home one night after a long day to find him sound asleep, his head pressed against a large mound of petticoats as a result of rolling over. Apparently, she had been sorting them earlier, and had left them on part of the large bed; he had fallen asleep on the other half. Upon hearing her, he awoke and greeted her, but only after exclaiming that he thought he had died and gone to heaven! For, when his eyes opened in the fog of sudden awakening, he found himself immersed in a cloud-like atmosphere, soft and delicate, and totally out of touch with reality. (Many present-day women think most men are too!) I think we can all relate to that!