Florence Eiseman discovered her talent when making gifts for friends. Her husband took some of the pinafores she had sewn to Marshall Fields and was given a large order. This legendary brand of clothing for children was born in 1945 and is still going strong today.
Florence did not like the ruffled and frilled skirts and petticoats for little girls that were worn at the time. She felt that simple A-line dresses were best suited to their figures. She also preferred bright colors to pastel pinks and blues. Her clothing was simply embellished with whimsical appliques like butterflies and flowers. Her clothes were a hit with mothers and generations of children have been dressed in her clothing, including those of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor.
It was also her use of bright, clear colors instead of the popular pastel pinks and blues that drew attention. The use of appliques in whimsical shapes like flowers, animals and butterflies became a signature of her designs. The straight, uninterrupted lines of dresses without waistlines flowed smoothly and allowed freedom of movement. Her influence on fashion for children was recognized when she received the Nieman Marcus award in 1955.
In the 1980s Florence phased out her day-to-day involvement. She left her head designer, Teri Shapiro, in charge of design. Teri had worked under her since 1972 and says that the most important thing she learned was that every design has to be fresh but it still has to maintain that iconic look of the brand. She has nurtured the brand ever since and although the company went through some ups and downs, it is going strong today.
The range has expanded over the years to include swimwear, play clothes and knitwear. It has also extended its range of baby clothes, including a variety of dresses, bloomers and rompers in cool and comfortable cotton blends. Fabrics are patterned with prints and stripes and are still embellished with delightful appliques which are a signature of the brand.
The company is based in Milwaukie and has always sold their clothing through stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. This has changed with the advent of internet based shopping. The clothing is still available through these stores and others but with websites on which orders can be placed, they are now available to a much wider market.
These items are very practical as they are all machine washable and lined. Some are reversible like seersucker overalls with zoo animal appliques or a colorful seersucker dress. A practical playsuit for a baby has elasticized leg openings and a snap button gusset. Some of the embellishments like flower pins can be removed for easy washing.
The Florence Eiseman brand caters for all kinds of activities, whether going to school, playing outside, swimming in the pool or attending a special event. The brand has received numerous awards over the years and continues in a tradition of attention to detail and classical yet trendy designs. These clothes are of such quality that they can often be passed down through generations with little evidence of wear and tear.
Florence did not like the ruffled and frilled skirts and petticoats for little girls that were worn at the time. She felt that simple A-line dresses were best suited to their figures. She also preferred bright colors to pastel pinks and blues. Her clothing was simply embellished with whimsical appliques like butterflies and flowers. Her clothes were a hit with mothers and generations of children have been dressed in her clothing, including those of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor.
It was also her use of bright, clear colors instead of the popular pastel pinks and blues that drew attention. The use of appliques in whimsical shapes like flowers, animals and butterflies became a signature of her designs. The straight, uninterrupted lines of dresses without waistlines flowed smoothly and allowed freedom of movement. Her influence on fashion for children was recognized when she received the Nieman Marcus award in 1955.
In the 1980s Florence phased out her day-to-day involvement. She left her head designer, Teri Shapiro, in charge of design. Teri had worked under her since 1972 and says that the most important thing she learned was that every design has to be fresh but it still has to maintain that iconic look of the brand. She has nurtured the brand ever since and although the company went through some ups and downs, it is going strong today.
The range has expanded over the years to include swimwear, play clothes and knitwear. It has also extended its range of baby clothes, including a variety of dresses, bloomers and rompers in cool and comfortable cotton blends. Fabrics are patterned with prints and stripes and are still embellished with delightful appliques which are a signature of the brand.
The company is based in Milwaukie and has always sold their clothing through stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. This has changed with the advent of internet based shopping. The clothing is still available through these stores and others but with websites on which orders can be placed, they are now available to a much wider market.
These items are very practical as they are all machine washable and lined. Some are reversible like seersucker overalls with zoo animal appliques or a colorful seersucker dress. A practical playsuit for a baby has elasticized leg openings and a snap button gusset. Some of the embellishments like flower pins can be removed for easy washing.
The Florence Eiseman brand caters for all kinds of activities, whether going to school, playing outside, swimming in the pool or attending a special event. The brand has received numerous awards over the years and continues in a tradition of attention to detail and classical yet trendy designs. These clothes are of such quality that they can often be passed down through generations with little evidence of wear and tear.
No comments:
Post a Comment