I've seen this tag sewn into the neck of countless blouses, dresses and ladies' suits, but every time I encounter such garments they are on the racks at the Junior League or other such upscale consignment shops. I've never seen Adolfo in a store in present day. Most of the time when I encounter this designer hanging between the St. John knits and old Chanel quilted jackets, the Adolfo garments are often not part of a line that is in collaboration with Sak's, but on their own, and the tag simply reads 'Adolfo.' For years I have wondered, Who is Adolfo?Finally, I got my answer, and it came from a source that seems incredibly obvious to me now. The CFDA's website has a very useful and extensive index of designers, and here is what their page on Adolfo had to say:
"Adolfo was born in Cuba and began his fashion training in Paris. Adolfo’s dream was always to open his own atelier that would focus on ladies’ apparel.
In the early 1950’s, Adolfo’s fashion career began to blossom as a hat designer in New York City. It wasn’t until he started working for Emme that he gained prominence, attaining his own title, “Adolfo of Emme’s.” His hat designs brought Adolfo critical acclaim, earning him his first Coty Award in 1955 and the Neiman Marcus Design Award the next year.
In 1962, Adolfo opened his own millinery studio. With the freedom to extend his creativity to other areas, Adolfo began designing clothes for his models to wear while they showed off his hats. This eventually led to Adolfo’s first full couture collection, which was introduced in 1964.
Consistently using the best materials and highest quality workmanship, Adolfo’s suits, dresses and unique evening gowns earned him the admiration and loyalty of the world’s most elegant women, including Nancy Reagan and the Duchess of Windsor. In 1969, he was presented with a special Coty Award for his contribution to design “from head to toe.”
In 1993, after a long, successful, and noteworthy career creating the finest women’s clothing, Adolfo closed his East 57th Street couture salon..."
In the early 1950’s, Adolfo’s fashion career began to blossom as a hat designer in New York City. It wasn’t until he started working for Emme that he gained prominence, attaining his own title, “Adolfo of Emme’s.” His hat designs brought Adolfo critical acclaim, earning him his first Coty Award in 1955 and the Neiman Marcus Design Award the next year.
In 1962, Adolfo opened his own millinery studio. With the freedom to extend his creativity to other areas, Adolfo began designing clothes for his models to wear while they showed off his hats. This eventually led to Adolfo’s first full couture collection, which was introduced in 1964.
Consistently using the best materials and highest quality workmanship, Adolfo’s suits, dresses and unique evening gowns earned him the admiration and loyalty of the world’s most elegant women, including Nancy Reagan and the Duchess of Windsor. In 1969, he was presented with a special Coty Award for his contribution to design “from head to toe.”
In 1993, after a long, successful, and noteworthy career creating the finest women’s clothing, Adolfo closed his East 57th Street couture salon..."
That last sentence explains why I've never seen his clothes in Neiman Marcus or Saks in present day, and why the items I've seen in consignment shops all look at least twenty years old. That includes the green blouse in the photo above, which I found at a vintage shop this weekend. If you know me you know it's very difficult to walk away from a tie-neck blouse when it has a fun print or a kicky color scheme to it. I'm grateful that the CFDA has a catalogue of designers for amateur rubes like me who are curious to know the story behind whose blouse I have on my back.
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