Born 1895 as Jeannette Barr, Jane Derby was known as a top-of-the-line, ready-to-wear designer. She opened a retail business in New York in 1936 and Jane Derby Inc. in 1938. Her clothing was geared toward the mature women and featured three and four-piece town suits, as well as casual and full evening wear. She often showed dresses with jackets or shawls and used flattering necklines in soft silhouettes for her customer.
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| Fashion designs by Jane Derby in the 1950s |
In the early 1950s, John Moore was her designer. Continuing to show conservative and feminine clothing, Derby ran her house till her death in 1965, when it was taken over by Oscar de la Renta, who was designing for the house at the time. From 1965 to 1967, the label was Oscar la Renta for Jane Derby.
Take a look at these amazing photos to see portraits of classic models wearing fashion designs by Jane Derby in the 1950s.
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| Dovima in dinner dress of black linen under a transparent white sheer French silk net jacket by Jane Derby, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1, 1950 |
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| Dorian Leigh in gorgeous short black lace sheath with floor-length tulle overskirt by Jane Derby, Vogue, May 15, 1950 |
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| Dorian Leigh showing off accordian pleats of a straight-hanging sheer dress by Jane Derby, which can swirl into a ten-yard circle of flesh-colored chiffon, photo by Gjon Mili for Life, March 13, 1950 |
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| Dovima in an at-home costume of Celanese duo-tone panne satin by Jane Derby, Vogue, December 1, 1950 |
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| Dovima in beautiful ruffled lace dance dress by Jane Derby, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, October 1951 |
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