Description:

Adele Simpson
various, various
Adele Simpson, "America's First Ladies Designer" Archive, Including Original Sketches
Archive

A wonderful archive of material related to couture fashion designer Adele Simpson, whose apparel from the 1950s through the 1970s was celebrated by women on the world stage of politics, entertainment and society. She is best known for dressing First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter and Barbara Bush, but her designs attracted women of all arenas, including Indira Gandhi, Claudette Colbert, Elizabeth Taylor and Margot Fonteyn.

This archive includes: original sketches, newspaper clippings featuring her designs, look-books from other designers, photographs from her world travels, advertising collateral material and so forth. Condition ranges from fair to very good and we invite bidders to view this lot in our Connecticut offices. *Please review our terms regarding lots of five or more items.

Of particular note are: 15 painted sketches of her designs, each signed "Lucille" with some bearing the fabrics used for the design. These gorgeous illustrations richly capture the "psychedelic" and "mode" fashions of the 1960s, with vibrant colors and tons of charm!

Other items of note include invitations from the White House inviting Simpson to events; as well as letters from Indian dignitaries and an invitation from a delegate of Iran; two oversize scrapbooks with images…much much more.

Adele Simpson (1903-1995) was diminutive 4 foot 9 inches, but a savvy business and design powerhouse whose career spanned five decades. She second-generation Latvian immigrant who performed in vaudeville as a child, Simpson made a successful career in the world of high fashion dominated at the time by masterful male designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin and Bill Blass. Simpson brought a unique eye towards comfort and practicality which grew her reputation for easy-to-wear shirtwaist and shift dresses in the 1960s and 1970s. While never gaining the popularity or renown of her fellow male counterparts, she brought a truly American vision of fashion, embracing the beauty of cultures from all over the world and blending them with a philosophy of pragmatism. In addition to being known for her celebrity clients, Simpson's work is in the permanent collections of Brooklyn Museum and the Met and she was the winner of numerous industry awards.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.
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  • Dimensions: 28" x 19" x 10.5"
  • Medium: Archive

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October 8, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
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$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000