Irene Advertisement for Evening Gown, Harzfeld’s
Ads for Irene’s collections appeared in magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Town and Country. They might have been either photos taken at Irene’s Culver City, Ca. showroom or provided by the department store by staff photographers and/or fashion illustrators. The dark heavy velvet strapless dress in the ad demonstrates Irene’s simplicity of design as well as ability to “internally” engineer the structure of the bodice with boned supports.
Read MoreIrene Fashion Show, Harzfeld’s, ca. 1950
Hi, Joe: Your project of writing a book on Harzfeld’s high-end Kansas City department store sounds great! The store was one of Irene’s early retail franchises and in the early 1950s she visited with some of her models and put on a fashion show of her latest collection. I believe this photo was taken then; perhaps you can confirm if it was by the same photographer (Ervin D. Green) that did your photo of a model in an Irene gown. I have more photos which are believe are from Harzfeld’s of Irene fashion shows from the same period as this one. The dress shows Irene’s interest in contrasting white pique collars and cuffs with darker fabrics. Note the light stitches outlining the top of the dress to make it appear as a two-piece ens
Read MoreSome Thoughts About Researching Irene for a Book
Well, I’ve posted a few photos from Irene’s past. I will add more information about her very interesting life from time to time on Karlyn’s blog. I’m finishing up another draft of the book I’ve written on Irene’s life and career. My research has taken me in many directions and provided with a great deal of images, but they can’t all be published. So this is a good forum for relating information about her and about my book. I am not sure when it will come out and publishing is indeed a tricky business, and there are yet unknown requirements and guidelines that I will need to do. But my research has been intense and hopefully accurate. Since I worked at Bullock’s Wilshire in the 1960s and recalled...
Read MoreBen Turpin & Perhaps Irene Lentz?
A still photograph from the silent film, The Daredevil, shows Ben Turpin with a horse and a film player who looks rather like Irene, although this is debatable. Irene did play a role with the cross-eyed comedian known for his crazy screen antics. The year of the film was 1923, but apparently this scene was not in the film. Irene was much taller than Turpin, who was rather short and goofy looking, but he was still surrounded by female beauties such as Irene, who started out as a bit player when she and her mother and brothers moved to Hollywood from Baker, MT. Frank and Kline were her brothers and Kline is Karlyn’s great grandad and of course, her mom’s...
Read MoreBaker MT ca. 1930s
Baker MT later when the roads were paved and even motor cars, instead of horses were used as a form of transport! There is even a movie theatre, probably showing “talkies,” quite unlike the silent films Irene saw in Baker as a kid.
Read MoreAbout Irene
Irene is my grand-aunt, and admired for her work in women's fashion and Hollywood costume design. Her talent as a successful clothing designer in Los Angeles led to her long career as a costume designer for many great films in Hollywood.. until her sudden death in 1962. I hope you enjoy your visit.. ~ Karlyn
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