Holiday Lounging with 1970s Harper's Bazaar
Dead Week Fantasy Dressing
If you are celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa and/or Hanukkah, I hope that you are having a lovely and relaxing holiday. Often called “Dead Week,” the period between Christmas and New Years is described as “a blank space… when nothing makes sense and time loses its meaning” and “all of society feels a little aimless during these few days. We’re waiting for the new year, with all its resolutions and hopes for starting over, but we’re not quite done with the old one.”
My resolution for these few days? To be more like the lounging Christmas ladies of 1970s Harper’s Bazaar. Throughout that decade, Harper’s Bazaar showcased true holiday luxury through double-page spreads of society ladies and models lying across sofas in their holiday best, flanked by wrapped presents, twinkling trees, and besuited children. Whether an editorial or an “at-home” shoot, the emphasis was on being so rich and so glamourous that you entertained fully reclined in Valentino Couture, Halston, or Beene. By 1980, Harper’s Bazaar’s editors and photographers moved on from extolling the beauty of indolent luxury, but on this “Dead Week” there is something inspiring to be found in lounging in your best and most sparkly outfits.
Harper’s Bazaar, December 1977
Photographs by Marco Glaviano
“More than anything Christmas is a time for joy... Joy to be given wholeheartedly, to be shared and cherished It's a family time, a time for gathering together. And not the least of the pleasure is the beauty and zest of children. Photographed here and on the next four pages are three young mothers... with their children... wearing clothes from top designers in Paris New York, and Rome.”
Katherine McCallum with her two children, Sophie, three, and Peter, seven. She's wearing one of the star dresses from Yves Saint Laurent's haute couture collection, a blaze of silver lamé and mixed metals on silk. They are dressed by Cerutti. Rubies and diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels Apartment: Sandra Merriman Inc.
Evelyn Kuhn with her son David, three. She's wearing the most vivid Christmas dress of silk jacquard with a peasant blouse and ankle-length skirt bordered in Roman stripes. This by Geoffrey Beene who also designed David's beige linen shirt and brown velveteen shorts. Dress, about $1,520. At Bergdorf Goodman; Dayton's; Neiman-Marcus. Boy's clothes to order: Geoffrey Beene Boys. Gold and diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels. David's shoes by Indian Walk. His mother's shoes by John Kloss for Customcraft.
Carolyn Boyce Johnes with her children, Alexandra, aged nine months, Stephanie, two. Mrs. Johnes is wearing a bright white dress of fluent georgette with a pleated skirt and sleeves embroidered in silver. By Valentino Couture of Taroni silk. Brilliant emerald and diamond earrings from Van Cleef & Arpels. Hair and make-up by Pamela of Kenneth. The children's clothes are by Cerutti. Christmas decor here and on the preceding four pages by John Goslee of The Fernery. Photographed: in Joan Rea's apartment.
Harper’s Bazaar, December 1978
Photographs by Bob Stone
“Fourteen pages oftop designer evening looks that cover the spectrum of holiday entertainment, responding to every invitation in gala style... Starting here-more color, more revealing, more drama and delight in clothes that prove it's the best of all years for dazzle!”
It start with something gold… in this case, Valentino's remarkable paillete evening skirt. Long, narrow and front slit, it's everything you could want and with his plunging, tasseled black jersey top and the dazzle of one feathered-and-jeweled earring - a knockout! By Valentino Boutique Ltd. Skirt in silk chiffon, about $1,235; top in viscose, about $195. At Valantino Boutiques, New York & Washington, D.C; Montaldo's; Sakowitz; I. Magnin… On these 14 pages: Hair, Serge Martin; make-up, Mark Nahmias. Decorations by James Goslee Associates.
In a year of black dresses-the most glamour, the most impact, the most everything! Oscar de la Renta's fantasy of sequins and black lace: a revealing paillette jacket sashed with a satin dow. over one of the most romantic evening skirts-his embroidered lace fan of a skirt, scalloped at the hem and studded with sequins… the drama that’s pure Oscar! Cotton jacket, nylon lace skirt, about $1,396. At Elizabeth Arden Salons; Maison Blanche; Sakowitz. The Beauty: When you're dressing with this much drama, nothing than an all-out romantic scent will do… Oscar de la Renta parfum captures the mood and holds it! Interiors by Ethel Raywood; decorations by Craig Raywood; flowers by Perriwater.
If you're dressing to make the most of a terrific figure... Halston is the man to see. His carve of jade silk chiffon jersey, one-shouldered and midriff-baring with a long slender skirt all sophisticated color and wonderful shape. About $580. At Bergdorf Goodman; Halston Boutiques; Charles Sumner: Younker-Kilpatrick; Balliet's; Neiman-Marcus; Giorgio, Beverly Hills. Gold and diamond jewels by Elsa Peretti of Tiffany. Sandals by Halston for Garolini.
All bareness and soft, shimmering color - Geoffrey Beene's bias-cut, melon-colored slipdress piped in cinnamon. Bare to the waist in back, plunging low and caught with a silk flower in front, it's a level of revealing that has to do with perfect cut, perfect fabric… and that's the kind of revealing to go for! In Taroni silk, about $710. At Saks Fifth Avenue; Marshall Field; Neusteter's; Neiman-Marcus; Bullocks Wilshire. Gold, diamond and emerald jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels.
There's a certain wit to dinner dressing… who but Geoffrey Beene would give you a two-piece kimono dress in pink silk cloque with big orange polka dots. Tied with a bright obi sash, like a delightful Christmas package! In Taroni fabric, about $1,070. At Bonwit Teller; Hudson's; Dayton's; Sakowitz. Gold and diamond jewels by Bulgari at Danaos Ltd., Hotel Pierre, New York.
Harper’s Bazaar, December 1973
Photographs by Barry McKinley
“Christmas is a time of reaching out to far-flung friends, distant relatives, everyone you hold dear. A time of bringing together those you love in the beckoning warmth of your own house. On these 12 pages, Bazaar visits with five hostesses-beginning here, with Marnie Moore in Christmas red. And they tell you all the things they do to celebrate Christmas with family and friends each year.”
Marnie is in Christmas-red this year—long matte jersey dress and cape by Adele at Five; in Klopman Dacron VIII. Saks Fifth Avenue; Wanamaker's; Hutzler's. Hair combed by Benjamin Moss; make-up by Sarah Bandy.
Wendy Thomas, left in the pajamas she wears on Christmas day. By Geoffrey Beene, in white Onondaga satin of acetate and nylon. About $260 At Bergdorf Goodman; Jacobson's; Harzfeld's; Neiman-Marcus. Wendy's hair was combed by Benjamin Moss. Her make-up was done by Sarah Bandy. Three-year-old Dorri Thomas, opposite, in her Christmas dress too, with Charlie the family basset hound.
Jean in her green satin dress by Oscar de la Renta. It looks very Christmasy—on the red sofa with her two toy white poodles, Janey and Impy. Dress, in Abraham silk. About $445. Bonwit Teller; Wanamaker's; Neiman-Marcus. Hair, Benjamin Moss; Make-up, Sarah Bandy.
Harper’s Bazaar, December 1977
Photographs by David McCabe
“In the whirl of holiday festivities, the most important are the intimate celebrations at home with your family and friends on Christmas eve and Christmas morning. You'll want the most relaxed but most attractive looks. Here are the perfect pants, tops and robes. They're all easy elegant shapes; soft, fabulous fabrics.”
Main: THE BLACK VELVET SMOKING SUIT. The pants and jacket are terrific, timeless; the white blouse is a new, ruffled romantic. By Fernando Sanchez. Jacket, in quilted rayon, lined with quilted nylon, polyester and silk, about $90. Pants, in rayon, about $70. Blouse, in cotton, about $76. At Saks Fifth Avenue; Balliet’s; Sakowitz; I. Magnin.
Inset: THE SATIN PAJAMA SET. How do you stand out in a room full of reds and greens? Wear colors so subtle, they’re compelling. As a whisper is. Taupe and navy pajamas in sleek, shiny satin; the long taupe tunic sashed softly over the navy fly-front pants. By Geoffrey Beene for Swirl, in polyester. About $80. At Lord & Taylor; Holt Renfrew; Sakowitz; I. Magnin. Here and for the next two pages: hair, Raphael for Le Salon; make-up, Shelly Durham; Interior by Sandra Merriman, Inc; Christmas decor by James Goslee of the Ferenery, NYC.
Inset: THE CACHET OF CASHMERE AND CREPE. Pamper yourself with this superlative robe. It's soft-as-silk, warm-as-fur, pure cashmere; simply cut; in an appealing tone of taupe with pink piping and a pink cord tie. To wear over pink crepe pull-on pants. To slip into this Christmas morning and mornings for years to come. By Mate for Odette Barsa Robe, about $250. Pants, in polyester crepe, about $24. At Bonwit Teller; Bullock's-Wilshire.
Main: A CONFECTION OF SATIN AND LACE. A low-necked camisole over loose, easy pants, and a long robe; all in slinky silk satin, lavishly bordered in French taupe lace. This is the perfect way to linger over morning coffee after the presents have been opened. By Bill Tice for Swirl. About $700.
Is that Shelley Hack, second from the last? I just started singing the "Charlie" jingle, lol.