Fern Violette: California Designer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1507_zpsacd74d7d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="437" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1507_zpsacd74d7d.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><br><br>This dress was designed by Fern Johnson Violette. She was born in 1920 in Montana, and grew up on a farm. At age 19, she married Ed Violette and had soon had a daughter. In her early 20’s they moved to Southern California to work in the aircraft factories during WWII. <br><br>After the war, Fern worked for a Los Angeles apparel manufacturer. While there she found that she was a natural for the fashion business. This inspired Fern to open her own company, under the “Fern Violette” label. She produced high-end women’s fashions from a location at 48 Market Street in Venice, California. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1509_zps8731c8d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="561" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1509_zps8731c8d7.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br><br>Later in her career, she hired Jay Morley, Jr. (1981 – 1997) to design for her. He is credited with his name on the label. Jay was the son of a well known actor from the early movie era and worked in the movie business as well. He had a prolific career from 1949 to 1957 as a low budget film costume designer, and is often given screen credit for his gowns. He was known to produce fashions that were more dramatic that Fern’s own earlier signature style. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1521_zpsb7d419ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="543" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/Blog%20Pix%20Pintucks/IMG_1521_zpsb7d419ae.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br><br>Fern’s fashions are said to have been worn by Jackie Kennedy, among others. Her line was sold at Bloomingdale’s, Sak’s Fifth Ave, and the Los Angeles luxury store: Bullock’s Wilshire. She designed until the mid-1970’s when she retired with her husband and moved back to Montana where she lived until she passed away in 2010. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcYkEuj0rLT5TGJz2Gc0OnXa2GTWYjA9P185LV9EcqdQdaVUJWTgL-ckj-0WKCmgCNjQlrH0UndI4BJys853LjP27Waoj-fuWvO3AdqmjYPOVvmH3mmot9Lj1w_mT3STcM17DFvPWclma/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcYkEuj0rLT5TGJz2Gc0OnXa2GTWYjA9P185LV9EcqdQdaVUJWTgL-ckj-0WKCmgCNjQlrH0UndI4BJys853LjP27Waoj-fuWvO3AdqmjYPOVvmH3mmot9Lj1w_mT3STcM17DFvPWclma/s400/IMG_1529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br><i>This "Fern Violette" design is a cotton two-piece dress, probably from the mid 1950's. It features a rolled collar with a "V" back.</i>

Fern Violette: California Designer

This dress was designed by Fern Johnson Violette. She was born in 1920 in Montana, and grew up on a farm. At age 19, she married Ed Violet...

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