This opulent gold tone pearl and rhinestone necklace is indicative of the luxurious jewelry Hattie Carnegie designed in the 1950s and 1960s. The necklace features a wide curved floral design composed of various rhinestone encrusted leaves with vines curling throughout, as well as bud - like pearls and small gold flowers set onto springs. The small golden flowers tremble when worn ( hence "entremble" ), giving the necklace an added layer of luxury and whimsy!
The necklace has a matching pair of earrings that feature the same rhinestone, pearl, and entremble floral design. They are available for purchase. See last image for details.
Hattie Carnegie was born Henrietta Kanengeiser in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. She was the second of seven children, and lived in poverty in her youth. The family immigrated to the United States when she was still a child, and settled in Manhattan. After her father’s death in 1902, Hattie took a job as a messenger at Macy’s to help support her family, and in 1904 she modeled and trimmed hats at a millinery.
In 1909 Hattie branched out, launching a hat making business with dressmaker Rose Roth, but by 1919 Roth had left the business, leaving Carnegie as the owner of “Hattie Carnegie, Inc,” a company that had a working capital of $100,000. Carnegie began traveling to Paris to buy original dresses to both sell in her shop, and use as inspiration for her own garment and accessory designs. Carnegie was instrumental in bringing Paris fashion to the United States; she imported Lanvin, Molyneux, Patou, Schiaparelli, Vionnet, and others, lavishing New York with gorgeous garments and groundbreaking designers that would have not crossed the pond otherwise. Carnegie also discovered and nurtured the talents of many prominent American designers, including Norman Norell, Pauline Trigère, and James Galanos. In 1925, Carnegie bought a building off of Park Avenue to house her $3.5-million-a-year business, and stayed there producing pieces throughout the Great Depression.
During World War II French haute couture came to a standstill. Carnegie rose to prominence on the international stage as an authority on fashion, and her works were seen in the theatre, cinema and on magazine covers. Although still glamorous, her designs became more austere when the United States joined the Allied Powers. As a part of the war effort, Carnegie designed a dress for Life Magazine. The dress patterns were published in the magazine alongside detailed instructions; it was said that although the dress could have been made for as little as $5, the original dress was valued at $175. After the war, Carnegie continued her business, the epitome of perseverance.
Sometime in her early 20s, Hattie had taken the last name Carnegie after Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist, philanthropist, and richest man in the United States during her lifetime. She certainly lived up to the name, having worked her way through and out of an impoverished childhood and into a glamorous life doing what she loved, while still grossing millions a year. Carnegie passed away in 1956, having been instrumental in the diffusion of Parisian fashion into American society, having nurtured the finest designing minds of the early and mid 20th century, and having designed all manner of enchanting things, including hats, handbags, gloves, jewelry, furs, lingerie, cosmetics, and even perfume.
$850.00
Amazing tromple l'oeil poly knit dress by Roberta di Camerino! The dress has a loose silhouette, with long sleeves, and a long pointed wing collar. The piece features an amazing graphic print that tricks one's eyes into thinking that the dress is actually a three piece ensemble! The print includes a black and red plaid faux skirt with pleats, a white blouse accented by gold tone Roberta buttons, and a red jacket with bright blue trim. This playful, elegant dress is deceivingly simple and wonderfully stylish! Made in Italy. Fabric is synthetic. Dress is in fair condition and missing cuff links for the french cuffs.
Giuliana Camerino (née Coen) was born to a Jewish family in Venice. In 1943, as World War II raged on, the Camerinos fled to Switzerland where Giuliana began designing handbags for local leather goods stores. Camerino founded the house “Roberta di Camerino” in 1945. The business was named after the 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film “Roberta”; The song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” was the last tune Camerino listened to before escaping to Switzerland.
Roberta di Camerino handbags quickly became known for their innovative use of patterned and colored fabric, two materials that had never been used in handbags. Camerino continued to develop new and interesting designs that would go on to inspire others, including using an “R”-trellis pattern in 1946 that predated Gucci’s iconic “G” pattern handbags and accessories, a the woven leather handbag in 1957 that anticipated the Bottega Veneta woven look, and a hinged handbag that Prada later went on to imitate. Camerino helped develop the post-WW2 venetian economy, employing venetian craftsmen to create many materials, including the brass hardware she used in her striking, cut-velvet bags, and to weave fabric using local antique looms. Camerino branched out into apparel; much of her clothing had distinctive optical illusion tromp l’oeil prints, pleats, buckles, and ruffles.
$875.00
Amazing tromple l'oeil poly knit maxi dress by Roberta di Camerino! The dress has a loose silhouette, with long sleeves, and a long pointed wing collar. The piece features an amazing graphic print that tricks one's eyes into thinking that the dress is actually a three piece ensemble! The print includes a red faux skirt with billowing pleats, a wide purple - blue belt that makes one think of Spanish matadors, a white blouse, and a red jacket with lapel and passementerie designs. This playful, elegant dress is deceivingly simple and wonderfully stylish! Gold tone Roberta buttons ornament the front, and match the cufflinks on the sleeve. Made in Italy.
Giuliana Camerino (née Coen) was born to a Jewish family in Venice. In 1943, as World War II raged on, the Camerinos fled to Switzerland where Giuliana began designing handbags for local leather goods stores. Camerino founded the house “Roberta di Camerino” in 1945. The business was named after the 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film “Roberta”; The song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” was the last tune Camerino listened to before escaping to Switzerland.
Roberta di Camerino handbags quickly became known for their innovative use of patterned and colored fabric, two materials that had never been used in handbags. Camerino continued to develop new and interesting designs that would go on to inspire others, including using an “R”-trellis pattern in 1946 that predated Gucci’s iconic “G” pattern handbags and accessories, a the woven leather handbag in 1957 that anticipated the Bottega Veneta woven look, and a hinged handbag that Prada later went on to imitate. Camerino helped develop the post-WW2 venetian economy, employing venetian craftsmen to create many materials, including the brass hardware she used in her striking, cut-velvet bags, and to weave fabric using local antique looms. Camerino branched out into apparel; much of her clothing had distinctive optical illusion tromp l’oeil prints, pleats, buckles, and ruffles.
$650.00
Striking! This slinky poly knit Roberta di Camerino dress falls below the knee, has short sleeves, and a round jewel neckline. The top of the dress is brilliant and deep Roberta red, with a navy blue trompe l'oeil illusion "fold" line that dips into the v - shape accent "belt" around the waist, giving the dress the appearance of billowing movement. The skirt of the dress features a geometric diamond, zig-sag, and rectangle pattern. A design exemplary of Roberta di Camerino's playful, elegant style! Made in Italy.
Giuliana Camerino (née Coen) was born to a Jewish family in Venice. In 1943, as World War II raged on, the Camerinos fled to Switzerland where Giuliana began designing handbags for local leather goods stores. Camerino founded the house “Roberta di Camerino” in 1945. The business was named after the 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film “Roberta”; The song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” was the last tune Camerino listened to before escaping to Switzerland.
Roberta di Camerino handbags quickly became known for their innovative use of patterned and colored fabric, two materials that had never been used in handbags. Camerino continued to develop new and interesting designs that would go on to inspire others, including using an “R”-trellis pattern in 1946 that predated Gucci’s iconic “G” pattern handbags and accessories, a the woven leather handbag in 1957 that anticipated the Bottega Veneta woven look, and a hinged handbag that Prada later went on to imitate. Camerino helped develop the post-WW2 venetian economy, employing venetian craftsmen to create many materials, including the brass hardware she used in her striking, cut-velvet bags, and to weave fabric using local antique looms. Camerino branched out into apparel; much of her clothing had distinctive optical illusion tromp l’oeil prints, pleats, buckles, and ruffles.