Satin Casket Gown

ELLE meets Carmen Dell'Orefice

When Carmen Dell’Orefice received her first modelling assignment in 1945, she could have had little sense that she was embarking on a 66-year career (so far).

From her first US Vogue cover at age 15 to her most recent runway turn in Alberta Ferretti’s January 2011 show , Dell’Orefice’s work has brought her into contact with nearly every personality that has defined post-war fashion. 

‘My first week, I worked with Clifford Coffin. Joffe, Horst, Cecil Beaton—Irving Penn was still in his army uniform. Years later, I met a new kid on the block called Dickie Avedon,’ she told us today. (That new kid would photograph Dell’Orefice jumping off of a Parisian sidewalk in his “Homage to Munkacsi”, destined to become one of the indelible images of both individuals’ careers.)

In London to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of the Arts London alongside Hussein Chalayan and Vidal Sassoon , Dell’Orefice is every inch the style icon. Though she's perfectly polished in a black suit and polka-dotted blouse, it's her flawless posture, trademark silver coif and direct gaze that announce her as someone who commands attention. 

At the beginning, she says, American fashion was in its infancy and nylon stockings were a novelty.

‘We walked differently, with a kind of grace and elegance that isn’t in style or in fashion,’ she says. ‘I think there’s going to be a renaissance, though. I think they’ve let it hang out, too much, for too long, and that’s boring. You really want to have a little bit of reserve and mystery, because if you know everything right away, what’s left?’

Working in the industry didn’t lead Dell’Orefice into the sort of glamorous life she portrayed for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She used her $7.50 hourly wage to support her Depression-crippled family.

‘Nobody ever gave me anything, and I never made enough money to buy the clothes I was modelling. That’s life,’ she says. ‘I always knew what was real in my life. I always knew the job I was doing, what I was getting paid and where my money was going.’

She and friend Suzy Parker, also a noted Avedon model, sewed their own clothes. But there were moments of fashion rapture on set that Dell’Orefice recalls as magical.

‘I have two moments. One was Charlie James [the American couturier Charles James]. I did a Cecil Beaton shoot for an ad... I was maybe 15 years old at the time, and I’m in a brown satin ball gown, looking in the mirror. The other was when Ali McGraw, the star of Love Story, lent me her navy blue Fortuny dress to wear to a ball. Is that friendship?

Best 4 Goth Prom Dresses « Review Newsletter- Sign Up Today

Hi to all of my goth dolls around the world . This is your Prom dresses Goddess again. I’m feeling anti-preppy nowadays. So we’re counting down the Top 5 Goth Prom Dresses starting with…

#5 Night Moves 6039 – Black Taffeta Ball Gown

I completely thought Night Moves prom dresses would be the vampiest of all. I mean come on, look at the name. Their designs are gorgeous but they don’t carry a lot of black. However, I was intoxicated by the lace-up pattern in the back of this strapless gown.

#4 Terani 35046H – Black w/ Gold Accents

Terani prom attires are very concisely, ruffled, and cutesy. I wondered if I’d even find something punk enough. I did. It’s a bit tutu-ish, but it’s black and it’s to die for. The gold cuts are scantily there, and it’s strapless. Very lolita.

#3 Precious Formals h3638 – Backless Jersey Mini

Yes, you can be sweet and still be goth in Precious Formal prom dresses, specially this one. It’s a basic backless slip dress with dark and lovely sheer black cap sleeves. And there’s this lower-case letter deepened design on the bottom that reminds me of a satin casket blanket. *evil grin*

#2 Jasz 4045 – Black Knit Cut Out

I didn’t find many Jasz prom dresses that could be can ~ considered} goth. I nearly gave up until I saw this one. It looks like nothing much from the front, but on the back…a huge cut out that looks like a spider web!! Enough said.

#1 Sherri Hill 1122 – Black, White & Red Mermaid

How on earth could Sherri Hill prom clothes ever be goth? Well, if Sherri Hill and Marilyn Manson had a daughter , she’d wear this. It’s the only dress on my list that is not all-black. The very top is white, cut by a blood red waistband, which cliff-dives to the ground in a long black taffeta skirt. Death becomes her.

Casket

Atkinson's casket

The Casket

American florist

The Casket