What are you wearing to your New Year’s Eve party? undecided?

Here are some ideas from the Bergdorf Goodman Archives, now at FIT’s Special Collections. These dresses and others were available for customers to order through Bergdorf’s Custom Salon from 1950-1969.

Patou evening gown. Lavender blue strapless evening gown with boned bodice, narrow skirt and large bow at back. US.NNFIT.SC.20

Dior Evening Gown. Black evening gown with boned strapless bodice, bow at waist, three rows of deep lace ruffles on skirt, slight train at back. US.NNFIT.SC.20

Leslie Morris Evening Gown. Strapless black velvet evening gown with boned bodice, V-neck, full skirt and coordinating black, white and turquoise stole. US.NNFIT.SC.20

Balenciaga Evening Gown. Rose colored evening gown with scoop neck, full skirt and matching stole. US.NNFIT.SC.20

Schiaparelli Gown Strapless black moire evening gown. Fitted skirt flares at mid-calf level. US.NNFIT.SC.20

Nina Ricci Gown. Brown and orange-gold evening gown with coordinating coat and capelet. Brown bodice has narrow shoulder straps and scoop neck at back. Straight orange-gold skirt has self-sash at waist with fringed edges.US.NNFIT.SC.20

Balmain Gown. Strapless purple evening gown. Bodice is draped over the bust and laces in back. Full skirt is gathered to hip yoke. US.NNFIT.SC.20

he Department of Special Collections  and FIT Archives acquires, preserves, and provides access to a wide range of primary research materials in their original formats, including archives, scrapbooks, oral histories, fashion sketches, illustrations, books, journals, and other items. Subjects include the apparel industry, fashion and regional costume, textile design and the textile industry, the FIT Archives, and, to a lesser extent, art, architecture and interior design. Department personnel are committed to supporting research by FIT students and faculty as well as designers and researchers from the apparel and textile field, other industry professionals, and scholars.

In order to view these original works or other Special Collections material please email us at fitlibrary.sparc@gmail.com for an appointment.