B.H. Wragge was established in 1920 by Bernard H. Wragge. It was acquired by Sidney Wragge in 1931, as a maker of both men’s shirts and women’s blouses. By the late 1930s, Wragge had developed the idea of separates and the company produced coordinated blouses, skirts, pants, coats, and other pieces that were meant to mix and match.
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| Fashion designs by B.H. Wragge |
From the late 1930s and into the 1950s, each B.H. Wragge collection was based on a theme, with the fabrics often designed by famous artists. These clothes were geared toward a young customer and B.H. Wragge clothes were very popular with the college set. Toward the end of the 1940s, the company changed its image somewhat and began doing more dresses and suits. By the 1960s, they were producing evening dresses. The company closed in 1971.
These beautiful photos captured portraits of classic beauties in fashion designs by B.H. Wragge in the 1940s and 1950s.
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| Model wearing silver 'cravat' print rayon dress by B.H. Wragge, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1943 |
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| Lauren Bacall is wearing yellow bare-midriff suit with black halter from B. H. Wragge, photo by John Rawlings, 1945 |
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| Model in elegant coat-dress by B.H. Wragge, Vogue, April 15, 1945 |
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| Model in paisley cotton skirt worn with black wool jersey shirt both by B.H. Wragge, black kid ballet flats by Capezio, silver gorget at the throat by Phelps, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, May 1, 1945 |
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| Sabine Weber in black roll-collar jersey wool, red felt cummerbund and gray flannel trouser-pleat skirt by B.H. Wragge, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, August 1945 |
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| Model in a red-and-white striped wool jersey skirt with white sleeveless blouse from B.H. Wragge, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue 1946 |
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| Model in peplum-lined jacket and skirt by B.H. Wragge, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, 1946 |
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| Model in wrap-around cotton skirt and rayon sharkskin shirt by B.H.Wragge, sandals by Mackey, jewelry by Nadja Buckley, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, May 1, 1946 |
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| Natalie Paine in two-piece dress of twill, the skirt is pleated in front only, the back is flat, top is sleeveless by B.H. Wragge, studded tan sheepskin belt by King Fashionables, photo by Genevieve Naylor, Harper's Bazaar, July 1946 |
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| Marilyn Ambrose in blue jersey dress with longer pleated skirt and high small waist by B.H.Wragge, photo by Genevieve Naylor, Harper's Bazaar, August 1947 |
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| Model in Everfast cotton print playdress by B.H.Wragge, photo by Jerry Plucer, Harper's Bazaar, May 1947 |
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| Model in slate-gray dress in spun rayon with white linen collar and cuffs by B.H. Wragge, photo by Richard Avedon at MOMA, Harper's Bazaar, May 1947 |
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| Betty Threatt and model in wearable clothes by B.H. Wragge, Harper's Bazaar, January 1948 |
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| Georgia Hamilton in rayon ribbon cardigan by B.H. Wragge, gilded barnacle pins used here as buttons by Mosell, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, November 15, 1948 |
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| Joan Pedersen in a fox-hunt inspired look of "pink" jacket black velvet weskit, white shirt and gray tweed, all by B.H. Wragge, photo by John Rawlings in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Harper's Bazaar, September 1948 |
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| Model in brilliant hand-blocked Tillet cotton skirt, its fullness caught up in front in looping swags and blouse in silk shantung, by B.H.Wragge, Evins sandals, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, April 1949 |
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| Suzy Parker in dark brown hand loomed worsted sweater dress with stand away turtleneck by B.H. Wragge, Coro earrings, Annette belt, photo by Kay Bell, Harper's Bazaar, August 1951 |
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| Model in Great Lakes mink greatcoat from Paul Kossoff, greige linen-rayon sheath by B.H.Wragge, Bergère link bracelet, Napier earrings, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, December 1952 |
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| Nina de Voogt in black jersey dress with jacket of silk twill in red and gold by B.H. Wragge, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, August 1, 1952 |
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| Suzy Parker in salt-white shirtwaist dress made of cotton piqué worn with a belt of waxy leather by B.H. Wragge, jewelry by Cartier, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, May 1, 1952 |
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| Cherry Nelms in superbly-fitted linen sheath with its own slim jacket half-belted in patent leather by B.H. Wragge, jet-like bracelet by Dalsheim, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, May 15, 1953 |
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| Jean Patchett in black linen sheath, belted in Spanish-colored cords by B.H.Wragge, patent leather bucket bag by Josef, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, January 1953 |
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| Jean Patchett in yellow jacket over yellow and white linen dress by B.H.Wragge, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe in the patio of the Alhambra, Spain, Harper's Bazaar, June 1953 |
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| Liz Pringle in navy linen slacks with pale blue rayon shirt and chiffon sash by B.H. Wragge, photo by John Rawlings in Bay Roc, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Vogue, May 1, 1953 |
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| Nina de Voogt in pale gray wool coat worn over charcoal jersey belted dress and knit hat by B.H.Wragge, earrings by Schiaparelli, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, August 15, 1953 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in pongee silk sand-beige shirt tucked into black and beige print skirt by B.H.Wragge, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, December 1954 |
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| Model is wearing a hooded dress in pale wool jersey by B.H.Wragge, bib of pearl and gold beads by Trifari, photo by Nina Leen, 1954 |
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| Patsy Pulitzer in blue velveteen dress and model in sleeveless green wool jersey both by B.H.Wragge, photo by Nina Leen, 1954. |
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| Model in blue silk gabardine tunic-top over a white linen sheath by B.H.Wragge, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Horst P. Horst for cover of Vogue, May 1, 1955 |
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| Sunny Harnett in navy blue worsted jersey sheath with white linen sailor tie for a collar by B.H. Wragge, hat by Emme, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 1, 1955 |
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| Liz Pringle in bare-backed 'half-shirt' of green silk shantung tucked into white shorts by B.H. Wragge, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, May 1956 |
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| Sunny Harnett in pale silk and wool tissue tweed dress with string-tie belt by B.H. Wragge, hat by Emme, handbag by Lucille, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, March 1, 1956 |
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| Anne St. Marie in at-home cartwheel pajamas of floral print silk-shantung and white linen top by B.H. Wragge, photo by Horst P. Horst, June 1, 1957 |
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| Carmen Dell' Orefice in fringed Moygashel linen chemise by B.H.Wragge, Harper's Bazaar, December 1957 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in white Moygashel linen dress with oval yoke and deep slashed pockets adding a long stemmed carnation by B.H. Wragge, shoes by Capezio, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, December 1957 |
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| Gretchen Harris (left) and Joanna McCormick in colorful printed bloused shirt-jackets and satin-lined shorts by B.H.Wragge, photo by Richard Rutledge in the Virgin Islands, Vogue, January 1, 1957 |
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| Lucinda Hollingsworth in a worsted and silk chemise dress of pink, red and white checks with deep neckline and hip-level pockets by B.H. Wragge, photo by Sante Forlano, Vogue, December 1957 |
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| China Machado in beach dress of white cotton swiped with khaki and green by B.H. Wragge, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, December 1958 |
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| Anne St. Marie in silk chiffon, amber herringbone shirtwaist dress by B. H. Wragge, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, February 1, 1959 |
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| Simone d'Aillencourt in linen sheath of cocoa brown and white alternating blocks by B.H. Wragge, sandals by Evins, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, June 1959 |