back view, 1940s nip waist yellow embroidered jacket
40s yellow and black jacket Asian influenced
close up detail, 40s jacket by Lois Russell Hawaii
detail of floral print fabric with metallic embroidery enhancement
detail view, metallic embroidery applied to 1940s jacket fabric
another detail view of 40s jacket embellishment
detail view of frog closure, 40s vintage fit and flare jacket Hawaiian
close up back view, 40s jacket by Lois Russell Hawaii
Lois Russell 40s jacket open
close up of sleeve, 40s Lois Russell jacket
40s Hawaiian jacket label, Designed by Lois Russell Hawaii
Women's Jacket 40s  Lois Russell Hawaii Fit and Flare Vintage Asian Style Embroidered Kimono Fabric VFG Medium
back view, 1940s nip waist yellow embroidered jacket
40s yellow and black jacket Asian influenced
close up detail, 40s jacket by Lois Russell Hawaii
detail of floral print fabric with metallic embroidery enhancement
detail view, metallic embroidery applied to 1940s jacket fabric
another detail view of 40s jacket embellishment
detail view of frog closure, 40s vintage fit and flare jacket Hawaiian
close up back view, 40s jacket by Lois Russell Hawaii
Lois Russell 40s jacket open
close up of sleeve, 40s Lois Russell jacket
40s Hawaiian jacket label, Designed by Lois Russell Hawaii
Women's Jacket 40s  Lois Russell Hawaii Fit and Flare Vintage Asian Style Embroidered Kimono Fabric VFG Medium

Women's Jacket 40s Lois Russell Hawaii Fit and Flare Vintage Asian Style Embroidered Kimono Fabric VFG Medium

$ 223.00 Sale Save

This is a gorgeous 1940s vintage jacket! The curvy silhouette is done with princess seaming. Shoulders are lightly padded and the long sleeves end in tapered points at the wrist. A mandarin collar plays into the Asian feel. The fabric is exquisite, and I believe it may be older than the jacket itself - it looks like vintage kimono fabric to me, and there were stories about Ms Russell upcycling appealing fabrics for her designs.

SIZE: No size label
Bust - 37" (94 cm)
Shoulders - 17" (43 cm)
Waist - 30" (76 cm)
Length - 23" (58.5 cm)
Sleeve length - 23" (58.5 cm)

FABRIC/COLORS: The background color is a soft yellow, with a dramatic floral print done primarily in black with shades of salmon, blue, cream, goldenrod and gray. In random places, details of one or more flowers are picked up and accented with silver or gold metallic thread. The jacket is fully lined in yellow faille.

TAGS: Designed by Lois Russell

CLOSURES: Secured with four hidden snaps down the front plus a hook & eye at the waist. The three black frogs on the outside of the jacket are functional.

CONDITION: There is a little grayish discoloration on the left sleeve cuff - see closeup photo. No other issues noted.

Lois Russell worked as a designer for an exclusive furrier in Los Angeles, but found her place in the world when she answered an ad placed by the owner of the Kamehameha Garment Company in 1937, a year after its founding. She had great success there, and stayed until 1943, when she opened her own specialty and couture shop in Waikiki. She retired in 1953, but came out of retirement in 1962 to design for Malihini Sportswear. She died in 1963.