American Look Fashion Designer Claire McCardell
Claire McCardell has been identified as the first truly American Fashion designer. One of America's leading fashion designers in the 40's and 50's, McCardell is the originator of the "American Look". She is known for her wrap-around sashes, monastic dresses, harem pajamas, and large pockets with top stitching. She also designed bias-cut dartless clothes with an easy-to-wear relaxed look. "She created casual but sophisticated clothes with a functional design, which reflected the lifestyles of American women" according to Modern Fashion Encyclopedia.
This lens will provide historical information on the short lived designer who passed away at the young age of 53 in 1958. There are also links to extraordinary examples of her creations and more!
Claire McCardell Images
Books about Claire McCardell
Claire Mccardell
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
Everything Claire McCardell
- History of Fashion
- 1905 Claire McCardell was born in Frederick, Maryland, USA, to a bank-president father. She had 3 younger brothers and grew up with a love of sports....
- Maryland Women's Hall of Fame
- Frederick-born Claire McCardell, the "creator of women's sportswear", "the gal who defied Dior", is widely recognized as the woman who pioneered casual, comfortable American sportswear for women...
- The American Look - TIME
- (See Cover) It was the end of April, and as the soft air turned the land green,
American women were suddenly aware of a truth that bursts upon them
every spring: Summer was at hand, and they did... - Wikipedia
- Claire McCardell (1905-1958) was an American Fashion designer. Her clothes were functional with clean lines and an American look. She is known for her..
- New School University Libraries
- Special Collections:
Fashion Design History Collection: Claire McCardell
Claire McCardell (1905-58) was arguably the leading force behind the development of American ready-to-wear fashion... - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Red silk damask - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- American Ingenuity: Sportswear, 1930s-1970s
We live today indebted to McCardell, Cashin, Hawes, Wilkins, Leser, and Maxwell, and other women who liberated American fashion from the thralldom of Parisian design... - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Evening gown, 1939
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Brown-and-white striped silk satin - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- "Popover" dress, 1942
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Blue linen - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Play/bathing suit, 1943
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Checked cotton gingham - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Evening gown, late 1940s-early 1950s
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Black-and-red silk plush - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dress, ca. 1950
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Black rayon jersey - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Sundress, ca. 1956
Claire McCardell (American, 1905-1958)
Red, blue, yellow, and plaid cotton - Fuzzielizzie Vintage: Fashion's Finest
- Claire McCardell's name is well-established as one of the most important American designers of the 20th Century. She was educated at Parsons School of Design...
- Bring It Back Vintage - Home
- Bring It Back Vintage is an online vintage fashion store offering quality vintage clothing form the 1920s to the 1980s. Vintage fashion research books and resources covering the topics of fashion eras, fashion and costume designers and collecting vintage clothing, textiles and accessories. Go to Bring It Back Vintage for everything vintage!
Other Great Vintage Resources
- Vintage Fashion Books
- There are so many aspects of the vintage fashion industry. If you are a collector of vintage, seller, plain old curious about how to identify a 1920's art deco necklace or all of the above this lens is for you. This lens plans on becoming a comprehensive organized resource of excellent books on ever
- Betsey Johnson in Living Color
- Like red lipstick on the mouth, my products wake up and brighten and bring the wearer to life.....Betsey JohnsonWhats not to love about this incredibly vivacious woman! The first time I laid eyes on a Betsey Johnson garment my heart leapt with joy. Known for her trademark cartweels on the runway. ed
- Ode to Pauline Trigere
- "Building a wardrobe is like collecting paintings, Your choices should be careful and personal and should reflect your taste, not just for a season, but for years to come." Pauline Trigere Born to a dressmaker mother and tailor father on November 4, 1912 in Paris France, Pauline Tr
- Vintage IS green!
- I was just reading this blog on Style Dash about Adrian Grenier stating the obvious:Being green is hot right now and Adrian Grenier is in the know! The bearded boy wonder attended the Global Green USA 5th pre-Oscar Party held at Avalon last week and talked about being fashionable and saving the worl
- Squidoo : Lensmaster Page
- My lensmaster page with more great lens' about vintage fashion.
Check out Bring It Back Vintage on Etsy
What do you think about the "American Fashion Designer" Claire McCardell?
starsam wrote...
Your lens would be a great addition to the 'Fashion - Fashion Models' Group
( http://www.squidoo.com/groups/fashion-models )
Feel free to add it anytime!
Posted February 12, 2009
Sally Jones wrote
in reply to amandaquerque
Posted January 02, 2009
Sally Jones wrote
Marvelous designer!
I am looking for a Claire McCardell dress pattern made available by the Los Angeles Times in the early 1950's. It had a bias-cut bodice with center front and center back seams, 3/4 doman sleeves, and a circle skirt with pockets. The neckline was curved up to give a stand-up collar effect. It was very attractive and very comfortable and I made it for myself and friends. Are there any McCardell patterns available? I would be very interested.
Thank you,
Sally Jones[in reply to amandaquerque]
Posted January 02, 2009
amandaquerque wrote...
Thank you for being a valuable member of the Vintage Clothing Group
Posted July 17, 2007
by bringitbackvintage
This journey began when I was a little girl. I would go through a chest that my stylish french mother kept up in the attic. No matter how o...
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