Lana Lobell Fashion Magazine, Spring and Summer 1960

  ...And then there was the Lana Lobell catalog. To order and wear one of those dresses became the utmost in fashion snobbery 

"A Skill to be Proud of and Pass Along" by Ana Marciel, Threads Magazine (June-July 2004)

Lest you think that the sleek sophistication of Vogue was the only look in town, let me show you this bouffant confection by Lana Lobell.  In the 1950s and early 1960s, Lana Lobell fashions were aimed at a younger market.  They were advertised in magazines such as Seventeen, Mademoiselle, American Girl and Teen Magazine and the general look was one of youthful prettiness.

Style 500 . . . You'll turn every eye and charm all present as you move gracefully on the scene in this dress that every girl's dreams are made of.  Short bolero has crisp fresh trim at collar and cuffs of white rayon, edged with pleated cotton lace.  Under the jacket: a scoop-necked bare armed dress of unpressed pleats, floating on its own cotton crinoline.  Self belt with self bow.  Really the delicious on the fashion cake!  Washable and crease-resistant Cupiani in Navy, Powder Blue or Turquoise.

The catalogue doesn't describe the "cotton crinoline".  Though lightweight (usually plastic) hoops were available for women wanting to wear the widest possible skirts, I suspect that in this case the "crinoline" was a type of stiffened petticoat.

This dress could have been worn almost any time in the previous decade.  Only a few details give away the fact that it was made in 1960: the length of the skirt (a little below the knee) and the fashionably wide belt worn by model.

Jumpsuits, 1970 Style (Lana Lobell, Holiday 1970

 A while ago I wrote a post about Lana Lobell's jumpsuits from 1979.  Recently, flicking through another Lana Lobell catalogue from the beginning of the decade, I discovered—yes!—more jumpsuits.  Made of acetate rather than polyester, and sporting wide, wide legs and funky zips, these jumpsuits are groovy garments from the pre-disco era.

But why waste time writing about them, when I can share the fantastic images and the zowie-wowie! prose from "Lana Lobell" itself? 

On the right in Acetate knit:

LICORICE-SLICKED ZIPPER taking the diagonal route to flattery on one of the most extraordinary jumpsuits we've seen all year!  One dazzling fashion leap from the jet-buttoned stand-up collar to the widest longest legs...

A GOLDEN-GLOW JUMPSUIT of beauty-bonded Acetate Metallic—nothing's more exciting, more glamorous!  Coachman shaped with generous collar and doubled buttons—one truly spectacular line way down to those wider-than-wide legs—incredible flattery from top to toe!

More Acetate—this time Acetate Jersey knit:

SNAKY SLIMLINER lining up all your assets from the convertible turtle-or-wing collar to the superb front zip to that luscious leg action below!

More Acetate Knits:

JUMP FOR JOY—this is the jumpsuit of the year.  Two shape-making contrast zippers sleeked from legs to that great 70's collar, creating a look that's totally new, totally exciting, totally flattering!

(Zips seem to be a theme for 1970, rating a special mention in three out five jumpsuits in this catalogue!)

Finally, for party-going, in sparkling Acetate Metallic:

MOONGLOW GLITTER in a truly mind-stopping jumpsuit!  V'd above, elastic cuffed at blowy long sleeves—its elastic-shirred waistline defining yours as never before!