Lord and Taylor Department Store

Popular Lord and Taylor Department stores were located in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. in addition to smaller stores in the suburbs of Connecticut and Long Island. The Lord and Taylor Department store had many specialty departments catering to the affluent shopper in the 1950s. The Lord and Taylor Women's Department was the most popular with their collection of designer dresses by Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy and Cristóbal Balenciaga.  Any formal event required a luxurious formal dress. Elaborate designer dresses were repeatedly worn and not set aside. The famous Chanel "little black dress" was worn for after five o'clock cocktail parties and dinner attire. For day time, sunny printed cotton frocks lined the racks.  

Colorful trendy bathing suits by designers and specialty companies such as Jantzen were waiting for that fun day at the beach. The lingerie department had lace, silk, chiffon, and ribbon adorned lingerie creations by Chanel, Dior and Givenchy. Lounging robes, tight girdles and Maidenform bras were available in the lingerie department. Fragrances by Lancôme, Christian Dior, Chanel, Lanvin, Givenchy, Rochas Perfumes, and Estée Lauder were displayed on sparkling glass counters for the society shopper. Perfumes were marketed in artistic and creative perfume bottles that were a work of art. Lancôme introduced Magie in a Baccarat bottle; Christian Dior launched Diorrisimo; Patou launched L'Heure Attendue; and Nina Ricci Coeur Joie.  

Chanel, Hermes, Pichel, Luis Vuitton, Gucci, Karl Lagerfeld, and Christian Dior luxurious designer purses and handbags were exhibited along side glass counters of expensive make-up by Charles of the Ritz.

The Lord and Taylor Department Store had a elegantly arrange furniture department with the latest in Danish modern furniture. Avant-garde styles by designers in Scandinavia, England, Germany and Holland were sought after. The ultrasuede chaise lounge combined with animal print lamps lured the curious. For the pool deck, there were upholstered patio chairs with hairpin legs and abstract fabric that captured the essence of the modern style. Contemporary sleek bedroom sets were covered in expensive linens. For the traditional home there were chintz fabric sofas and loveseats with ruffled pillows.