I am so honored to be wearing this 1950's/1960's suit from one of the most famous department stores in the world, with so much history and many stories to be told. Bergdorf Goodman is the epitome of glamour and sophistication, located in the heart of New York City. Almost every known public figure from celebrities to politicians have shopped there within it's 115 year reign. Not only is it known for it's high profile clientele, but also it's notorious, eye-catching storefronts.
If you haven't seen the documentary starring so many of our current famous fashion designers, I highly recommend you take the time to see "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's" which is available on Netflix. This is a very inspirational film, and something my store planning class at Wade College was centered around, thanks to my professor, Dr. Stanford. Check out the trailer, especially to give you an idea of just how important this store truly is.
Bergdorf Goodman was established in 1899 when French immigrant Herman Bergdorf opened a tailor shop in downtown Manhattan. Edwin Goodman studied under Herman, learning the art of tailoring, and later on in 1901 they formed a joint enterprise to create what was then officially "Bergdorf Goodman". Shown above is what used to be Cornelius Vanderbilt's former Victorian mansion, which was later torn down to build Bergdorf's.
In 1928, the store officially opened on 5th Avenue to it's 9 floors, and 190,000 square foot palace where it remains today. The top floor was the family's apartment at the time, consisting of 17 rooms. Once Andrew Goodman died, it was converted into a hair salon for John Barrett.
(photo of Bergdorf Goodman storefront in the 1940's)
Here are some recent window displays from the past couple of years, during their most popular and anticipated winter storefronts.
The store has seen it all. Elizabeth Taylor ordering 200 mink earmuffs for family and friends, John Lennon's $400,000 shopping spree, Grace Kelly spending two hours selecting her wedding invitations, Jacklyn Kennedy's white inauguration cape and dress, also her famous pink pillbox hat worn when husband JFK was assassinated.
Speaking of Grace Kelly, I was completely inspired by her outfit, shown above. She is carrying one of the very early Hermes Birkin's.
Paired with my Bergdorf Goodman suit, I am wearing a vintage Frank Olive for Neiman Marcus hat. Frank Olive was a famous milliner from the 1950's-1990's. He believed that “It’s not the shape of the woman’s face that really decides, but the attitude of the hat.”
Both the suit and the hat are now for sale on my Etsy store at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GwendolynsGoldenEras.
All of my accessories are from before the 1960's, and happened to perfectly match!
These special pearl earrings belonged to my late cousin Ruth.
My heels are from the fabulous Vessel Vintage. Check them out on Poshmark at https://poshmark.com/closet/vesselvintage
