I remember in the 70's, for me it was Julie Fey or Faye? I looked the name up to get the correct spelling and the person's profile isn't whom I thinking of. I know the last name was "Fey"....I think. Anyhow, I worked in an office and her dresses were so pretty and fashionable at the time. And a tad expensive on a clerical worker's wage, but I had a charge account! lol Always bought shoes to match too.

ETA: I did some more searching and I think it was Leslie Faye. Altho the images of the dresses I saw made me think - did I really wear that? I remember the dresses being way prettier than those. ha

Yes, I remember Leslie Fay dresses! They were nice simple work dresses - not terribly pricey but doable.

Does Levi Strauss count?

I was three in 1970

Anglo, I love hearing your stories.

Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses in the '70s when I was a teenager, and pretty much anything Liz Claiborne in the '80s.

None, too poor to buy designer anything. lol

I loved my Peter Nygaard blazer. I wore it a lot in the early 90's. I loved blazers and slacks or jeans. Funny I was thinking about that today.

In the 1970s and early 80s I designed and made my own clothes, plus clothes for others. In the 1980s and 90s I liked Versace - until he was murdered.

I remember that my mother loved Victor Costa's designs because he would knock off some of the higher end designers in a way that the middle class could afford the garments.

Yes! He was a self-admitted knock-off artist! His evening wear was fabulous - looked like dresses that were thousands of dollars. Apparently he liked women a bit too much - lawsuit from employee about toxic work environment due to sexual harassment. settlement caused bankruptcy and that was the end of his company. He made great dresses while it lasted.

I wore Diane von Furstenburg wrap dresses in the 70’s, too. They were practically the “uniform of the day” for Jr League meetings. I’m short waisted and even when slender, a bit thick in the middle, so they weren’t that flattering, but that soft fabric was so comfortable. In St Louis, they were always worn with Pappagallo’s. Remember those?

I'm trying to remember the 'nicer' brands that I wore in the 70's - DVF wrap dresses from the department store, was there a Norwich line? Norwich of CT perhaps? My favorite winter coat of all time was a Lodenfrey from Munich, wool and mohair, camel with deep green trim and metal buttons that my mother and I selected from a little boutique when I went to university in the 70's.

When I moved to Philadelphia I remember buying dressy little Albert Nippon handbags from Wanamakers.

I am enjoying this thread - I can't think of any but when I read your posts, I remember them all. Definitely remember Leslie Fay. I think it began as a "Better" brand and then got more mainstream and even ended budget category if I recall correctly.

I do remember shopping at Loehmann's and getting some Calvin Klein and Clovis Ruffin dresses.

Yes I remember Pappagallo's!

Villager - I remember that one too. I had some Liz Claiborne knits and I did carry her purses in the 80's, Calvin Klein, and a few Laura Ashley blouses,

Well, the Leslie Faye I remember doesn't sound like what others are describing. The dresses were not necessarily plain and simple. I had some very pretty ones. In fact, I kept a beige polka dotted one hanging in my closet for years after I was no longer young and slim because it was so pretty. It was sheer with a belt. Also a navy blue with white polka dots semi sheer with a belt, think it was a two piece.

I also wore other brands, whatever I liked and looked good in. ha

ETA: I actually have a photo of me in the beige polka dot dress, serving cake at a friend's wedding! It's in PDF and I couldn't figure out how to extract the pic.

I have always been a jeans and t-shirt person. In high school Big Blue jeans were all the rave and I had to have a pair too. I sure miss that brand. And over-alls. They seem to be making a comeback, but I wouldn't wear those now. lol I too, loved Levi's jeans. I've never been a "brand" lover (unless they're jeans), but really like Silver brand jeans now. They're expensive but oh so comfy. I grew up with a seamstress for a mother so she sewed most of our clothes. She was never one to allow us to wear name brand clothing. We had to fight tooth and nail and just to get one item that all the other kids were wearing. I don't know how many Canadians close to my age are here, but do you all remember Flag Jeans? I finally got a pair just as the fad was fading out.

We have a "discount" mall (it's really not... lol) that sells Coach purses. When they first opened there was a lineup two hours long just to get inside the store. I waited probably six months to venture inside as the lineups finally slowed down to no line ups. I walked in. I looked. I walked out. If I'm going to spend $150 for a discounted purse, it better be made of real leather and not have huge COACH silver lettering all over it with fake jewels and be made of plastic. They're so ugly! I prefer my Fossil bag, thank you. ;) It's probably the only real name brand item I own.

I was a teen as well, so no designer duds for me. I do remember wearing Liz Claiborne sweaters for work when I discovered the petite section in Macy's. They were actually very expensive at the time, but I would buy them one by one after each paycheck.

Years later though, I didn't care for her style.

Z Cavaricci jeans, I had 1 pair, purchased @ a basement sale for $10.

I do love to hear about your former life Anglo. It's so different from mine.

I was a teen/young adult in the 70's and didn't pay a lot of attention to designer labels back then. I do remember Calvin Klein jeans and Gunne Sax dresses. I had a Gunne Sax skirt and vest that I loved so much I wore it out. Oh, and Dittos jeans were really, really big at the time. Every young woman I knew had a pair.

I enjoy your stories too; I never had the kind of shopping experience you describe, but I remember seeing similar situations on tv shows. They usually took place in locations like Beverly Hills or NYC.

I grew up in the 90's and I was far more brand conscious as a child than I am now! We couldn't afford the brands the popular kids wore, and I remember being really upset about it. It seems silly now but I desperately wanted to fit in back then.

I don't think I own any designer clothing. I'm enjoying reading the stories!

Jeans - Gloria Vanderbilt, Jordache, Calvin Klein, Vidal Sasson

Dresses - Donna Karan, Gunny Sax, Laura Ashley, Maggy London

In General, Liz Claiborne

Like Lars I could sew and make "knock-offs" of the designers of the times using Vogue patterns.

The only one I can remember really liking in the 1960's was Mary Quant. I wore a lot of her designs or knock offs mini skirts and super short dresses. 'Barely butt covers' as my mom called them. In the 1970's it was Gunne Sax too.

Schoolhouse, can you take a snapshot of it from you phone and use that?

Villager, Papagallo, Liz Claiborne, Maggy London, what memories these bring back. Loved them all. And loved the Pendleton suits.

Never could afford designer clothing so I made my own. Lots of "sheath" dresses. Ah, yes...Vogue patterns! I always felt as though I'd arrived if I could upgrade to Vogue from Butterick (sp?), McCall's or Simplicity, lol. Now that I can afford designer clothing, my DNA doesn't permit it. ;)

As the baby of six I wore hand me downs,both girl and boy clothes and no designer labels for sure....

Until I got a job at 15 and could buy my own clothes. I used to wear both baby phat and apple bottom jeans and I loved how they fit me. Those are the only things I can think of.

Now, i pay no attention to brand names or designers. (Except my pink coach purse,bought used) If it fits in a flattering way and is a pretty color,I like it. I too, am a jeans and tshirt kinda gal. This time of year I love to have fun with my shirts. I have a Charlie Brown "I got a rock" shirt and a "Great Pumpkin Believer " shirt that I love. And don't ask me about my Christmas apparel collection, we will be here until next Christmas..... No name brand that I know of.

Liz Claiborne was the first thing that came to mind. The height of dorky fashion, now that I look back. I remember there was a scene in a movie where two women were sitting on a bench waiting outside an office. One admired the outfit of the chubby lady next to her and the second responded, rather smugly, “ it’s Liz Claiborne “

Why does stuff like that stick in your mind? I owned plenty of LC and also Jones New York, all from the sale rack, I am sure

.

I made my own clothes. I had some Vogue patterns that gave you a good foundation and worked from there. I had some fairly unusual stuff. I even made my own jeans. I am tall and long legged and girls jeans were just not long enough. As a hippie (to the degree you can be the real thing and not drop out) I had a lot of fun long flappy dresses for casual. My favorite was a bright orange and yellow plaid with daisy trim. I called it my sunshine dress. I must have stood out at my conservative southern university but I was oblivious in those days. All the normal girls were wearing elaborately pieced and fitted polyester shift dress things. I don't know about names. Lots of them wore custom made clothing though. People had seamstresses and dressmakers.

I was in college during this time period and much too poor to afford anything with a designer label. To be honest, a designer label means nothing to me, even now......except for a higher price tag. I could care less who's name is on the label!

I enjoy your stories, too, Anglophilia. Thank you for taking the time to share them.

Favorite designer today is Tahari.

I don't really remember being into designers when I was younger, but in my thirties there was a Lord and Taylor clearance center by my Mom's house that was a treasure trove of designer clothing at incredibly reduced prices. I would seriously spend hours in that store, spending hundreds of dollars but getting thousands of dollars of designer clothing. I still have most of them. It was the saddest day of my life when that store closed, lol. I also have some of my Mom's clothing from the fifties and sixties. Dresses purchased at Marshall Fields with the MF label. Very Jackie O. Slim fit skirts with little jackets.

Yes I can! Thanks eld. I think you can just make out the dress, too bad it's not in color. Geeze, what's going on with my hair? I do remember that I was asked to serve the cake at the last minute. I never served cake before in my life. I was so nervous - that is the groom's father holding out his plate.

And I remember someone coming through the line whispered to me, "Your button is undone". : ( It wasn't one of those elderly ladies either, it was a young man!

I was never into labels. I wore Levis and Wranglers because the fit me and Levis I could buy size 3s in Levis when they came out with colorful bell bottoms. I wore hot pants, minis and boots. Style was far more important than labels in the mid 60s/early to mid 70s. I have a few pairs of vintage leather hot pants saved. No labels. Everyone I knew dressed how they liked in those days. It was supposed to be "freedom" from fashion.

In the very early 60's I was a child but I had the angora sweaters, the angel tops and the fads like Dr.k Kildare/Ben Casey shirts.

In the later 70's fashion went out the window because those were my maternity clothes baby making/breast feeding years.

Caflower, I had the granny shoes too! Your dress could be worn today and no one would bat an eye.

In the 80s I was in high school, college and started grad school. My favorites were Laura Ashley and a Ralph Lauren in HS. Then Joan Vaas and CP Shades in college. Then back to Ralph Lauren, in grad school, with Ellen Tracy, and Talbots added into the mix.

I did buy one label. My BF in junior high and I went to Mervyn's so we could buy genuine Sonny and Cher labeled outfits. I bought the pants in the picture. But was a petite little hard belly and I rocked them with the mating halter style tummy tickler they came with. The low cut hip hugger pants and top were bright yellow daisy print. The eyelet was white with a bright hot pink/fuchsia velvet ribbon at the knee. The top had the same eyelet at the bottom with the ribbon. Wish I still had the outfit . It would be worth something today. My friend bought a more conservative outfit in turquoise. It was in a poorboy (vertical ribs) knit with large bells and a babydoll top.

The pic is not me. I was a lot smaller than that girl. I just found the pic on the net to show the pants.

My mom reportedly was called to the principal's office (she was a teacher by then!) about her skirt lengths. Apparently someone had been scandalized by the fact that she showed up to work in skirts and dresses that ended just above the knee! :P

Although what I look for on a label is "Machine Wash, Tumble Dry", I've enjoyed this thread. In home movies from the 50's/60's my mom was so beautiful -- tall, slender (but with the pointy bra's of the times, lol), dark hair and dark eyes. I never connected her style with Jackie Kennedy's but now I can see it. I think my mom was prettier than Jackie, but every kid has the right to think their own mom is the best in the world ;-)

Awwwww, that's a really sweet post, nickel.

Here I am in the 1960s--not at my slimmest, but definitely young! We lived in midtown Manhattan, and I worked at Lincoln Center. I shopped at Bergdorf's, Saks, Bonwit Teller, etc., but I guess I've never been into designers because the only label I remember is an Originala coat I loved. I was about to say I wish I still had it, but I don't know what I'd do with it. In my present life, Eddie Bauer is more desirable. :-)

Wow, look at urban, urbane you!

You look fabulous! We're clearly from the same era!

I do remember Originala coats! They were usually quite chic and were considered "pricey" but worth the money. I think I had one that looked like the Couregges coats. It was beige and I thought I looked very high fashion in it.

My mom made my clothes.

Lanz Originals were popular in the mid '50s and my mom made me some knock offs.

We were really poor.

I suppose it doesn't really count as a fashion designer, but my friends and I all wore jnco jeans as teens in the 90s.

We just had a 90s themed party a few weekends ago when we were all together, we pulled out our old jncos, donned our blue mascara and countless necklaces and had a grand time!!

It certainly isn't high fashion, but then, we never were about high fashion. We fully embraced the "counter culture".

It was nice to relive our high school glory days.

This isn't us but it might as well have been.

That last pic? I have that EXACT pair, it was my FAVORITE pair of jeans...wish I was still skinny enough to wear them!!