Today’s post is another Monday Mention! It’s also slightly different to normal but this is one I have had drafted for ages! As you may have seen, I really like collecting vintage patterns, although I have yet to successfully make any up – my small collection is full of gorgeous dresses but I’m more of a jeans and shirts kind of girl! I have a few gems I want to have a go at in the new year though, so I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime however, I inadver
tently seem to have started collecting vintage fashion illustrations. Who knows where this will end?!
A few months ago I visited a local antiques fair and managed to pick up 2 original vintage 1950’s fashion illustration prints. I loved them on sight and bought 2 but there were dozens to choose from – so so hard to choose!
The designer was a woman called Renee Marciel, who I’d never heard of – however the French chap who was running the stall at the antiques fair informed me she has designed for Christian Dior which seemed dubious but didn’t stop me buying! The illustrations are so elegant and when I grow up I hope to be as lovely as these ladies! (I’m 27, there’s still time right?!)
Renee Marciel was
a French designer who was based in Miami but unfortunately there is very little information about her online. Trained at the Beau Arts School in Lyon, she moved to the USA in 1946. Soon she began selling designs in the Fashion district in New York, and taught herself fashion cutting, draping and fitting before moving to Miami. Upon arrival she purchased several yards of fabric and began work on her first small collection of designs and eventually her work was noticed by buyers for Saks 5th Avenue who soon began to stock her designs.
The unfortunate thing is that that’s about all I can find out about her, and nothing to corroborate the Dior claim (one can dream). A Google image shows some incredibly gorgeous designs – this particular one is so striking. If I only I had an event to wear it to! During my image browsing I managed to find the actual dress for one of the design sketches
I bought!
If anyone does have any more info about Renee and her work, please point me in the right direction! I’ve included the links and resources I used below for those who are interested! There are some gorgeous examples of her work to be found:
Jenny stitched this 
Those drawings are beautiful, and the designs too. I was worried when I saw the “wasp” waist drawing. Who could wear that, then you see the real dress and it is wearable. So just like today, the model is a certain special size… Different than the real person.
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It’s nice to know even 60 years ago nobody looked like the models!
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EXACTLY! 😀
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After also purchasing a Renee Marciel print (#232), I started googling her to find out more, and I stumbled across your blog. I haven’t found any link to her and Dior, as well. However, the Paris flea market that I bought my print at also linked the drawing with Dior. So, while there’s nothing concrete online, it does at least seem to be a consistent statement.
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How interesting! There must be some truth in it then – I might try to contact Dior and see if they have any info 🙂
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I, too, bought 6 Renee Marciel prints in Paris at the flea market from a lady stating that Renee designed for Christian Dior but can’t find anything on it.
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I’ve just bought 2 lovely prints from an antique market from a French chap who says that only he and another friend in Paris have these prints. Unlikely going by the other comments from people on your blog. Howver they are lovely and he did have an article on display which mentioned that Renee worked for Christian Dior. Did you have any luck finding out more from Christian Dior?
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Unfortunately not! Short of contacting Dior directly I’m not sure where else to look 😕 he may not have been fibbing – the guy I bought mine was also French and also had an article about Marciel and Dior (maybe it was the samw guy?!) and these dealers do make the rounds of markets. Regardless of the truth in the Dior thing, her work was very lovely 😁 would love to see which ones you bought!
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I will try to find a way to upload a picture of them.
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Hi
I too have just purchased a couple of prints from the French man at Newbury Antiques market. He did tell me that she worked for Dior prior to moving to Miami.
So not sure if that helps to clarify or perhaps doesn’t make sense as she learnt about fashion in the USA. But none the less, they are lovely prints.
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At least the story is consistent – I suspect there is probably an element of truth in the Dior rumour but I have no idea how you’d ever prove it! Would love to see which prints you chose! 🙂
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I have three prints of renne . I got them from a French man at an antiques fair in England. I can’t find more for sale anywhere online which is odd
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I agree, although sometimes her clothing does pop up on ebay and on vintage selling sites!
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Do you think they will be worth something one day ? I don’t really know much about prints
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I honestly couldn’t say – without verifying the Dior link, probably not but of course I’m only speculating! I bought mine because I loved them and loved how elegant they looked 🙂
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I love them too just put them in black frame . will do some research on dior connection and if I find out anything more will post on here
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Thanks Lisa – would be fascinated to read what you find!
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renee marciel. its all the same guy who was selling them, there was one on ebay recently, not sold at £20, no 202 ive already got that one, but would like to buy more i havnt got.
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would love to know if you’ve found anything more about Renee marciel
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Still stumped I’m afraid! I do still plan to do some digging later on this year so I will keep you posted!
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