………………….NORELL……………The master of SEQUINS, and the master of TAILORING…………The three tiered sequin “Flapper Dress” is the very same dress I first saw when I entered the Norell showroom. On my first day there I nervously entered 550 7th Ave. in my navy blazer from Brooks Brothers, khaki pants, a white shirt and tie. Up to the 15th floor I went….where my world would change forever. When the doors to the elevator opened the first thing I saw was a black and ivory large diamond tile floor. I went to the reception desk and told the lady who I was, and that I had an appointment with Max Berniger [shocked I can remember his name after 55 years]. She asked me to wait in the ante room? She pointed the way…I opened the double doors with the gold door knobs and went into a small jewel box. All of the walls , and the ceiling were mirrored, and on one wall a cantilevered mirrored table upon which sat a beautiful simple, but large, frosted Lalique vase filled with Calla Lilies, Mr Norell’s favorite flower. There was an intoxicating fragrance in this little room. I sat on an small ivory satin bench with gold metal legs and waited. I took every detail in. After a while Mr. Berniger arrived. He was a very handsome, tall, slim man, impeccably dressed in his late 30’s, early 40’s. He had a slight accent, German I think, but he could have been Swedish too………Anyway, when I entered the show room there was the one gold rack with the “Flapper” sequin dresses….a gold, a kelly green, a purple. a silver and a fuchsia one all lined up perfectly. I was overwhelmed with all of this glamour in this Ivory showroom with ivory carpeted floors, ivory writing desks and small ivory chairs all with gold legs. The showroom also had the same intoxicating fragrance. I was introduce to the head vendeuse [sales person]. She was sitting at a desk, but rose to greet me. She was striking…..tall-ish, super thin, in her 50’s I would guess. She was wearing a perfectly fitting black Norell suit and had the signature jet black hair slicked back with one white streak….so chic!. I later learned she had been a Norell model in the late 40’s early 50’s. I was then ushered into the back where I was introduced to the man in charge of operations, and he took me on a tour and introduced me to all of the people who’s biding I would be at! What can I say it was all too much for this 18 year old boy. After a few days I knew everyone as if I had worked there for years! There were three sample rooms. Two were headed by women, one Italian, and one French. They didn’t like each other very well and were both very possessive of Mr. Norell. I had to learn quick how to win them over with my boyish charm. The third sample room was headed by a man……a master tailor who I learned much from. He was Italian, but spoke English perfectly. He too was very distinguished………On one occasion I was to bring a package to Mr. Norell’s apt. He lived in a town house, and had the top two floors of a 4 story building. I couldn’t wait to see it. I was given cab fare and off I happily went. When I got there the maid let me in and had me wait in the living room for a package I was to return to Mr. Norell. I don’t remember it well, but I do remember a very large Persian rug and a dark velvet couch [dark brown or forest green?]. Behind the couch was a magnificent Chinese antique 8 panel Coromandel Screen….The room had two sets of French doors that looked onto the street. In between the two doors were these very tall planters of beautifully dressed black men with large ferns coming out of their turbans. They would probably be considered politically incorrect today, but they were beautiful. I retrieved the package and was on my way back to 7th Ave…..thinking all the way of what I had seen, never wanting to forget anything about it……..The photos above are just a sampling of the beautiful sequin clothes and tailored clothes Mr. Norell had created……The beautiful Merlot jacket to the middle right is avail to buy on either Ebay or Etsy…..It’s a STEAL and still looks so modern!