Neiman-Marcus / France-Texas / A-Z — 1957
by Paula Bosse
Mais oui!
by Paula Bosse
Bastille Day again already? It seems to come earlier every year. Last year I wrote about the 1957 Neiman-Marcus French Fortnight — the very first fortnight celebration. This year I thought I would present a few of the pages from the lavish advertising supplement Neiman’s placed in the October, 1957 issues of American and French Vogue. The mini-catalog was titled “Neiman-Marcus Brings France to Texas, Everything From A to Z.” (Link to the entire ad insert is below.) Here we have “C,” “R,” “V,” and “Z.” Enjoy a flashback to fabulous ’50s fashion photography. And Happy Bastille Day!
Click to read a list of events and exhibits happening around the store.
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These pages are from a reprint of a 30-plus-page 1957 Neiman-Marcus advertising spread; from the collection of Stanley Marcus’ papers at the DeGolyer Library, Central University Libraries, Southern Methodist University. This is the very epitome of high-fashion advertising of the 1950s, and the sophisticated-but-fun-and-frothy art direction is wonderful. The entire mini-catalog has been scanned by SMU, and it can be viewed in a PDF, here.
My previous post “Neiman-Marcus Brings France to Big D — 1957” — which gives some background on this first N-M fortnight celebration and contains a great photo of the exterior of the downtown store elaborately decorated to resemble the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré — can be found here.
All images larger when clicked.
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Copyright © 2015 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
I was really the beginning of a new era and a Modern one at that, folks who did the site show in 2013 for Dallas Art History at the Dallas Museum of Art , never heard of Fort Night
,….While they were not around or from here, it really did end around 1989…or 88 on Sales street….
And the formula was really a Stanley Marcus one, since he felt the Texas State Fair was taking too much out of the October month from downtown shoppers, and it would and Lee Park or the Old Oak Lawn Park was the Future Arts District in 1957 that would not exist or make it after the Dallas Contemporary Museum failed in 1964,
All of this took place on Sales street which in 1960s was antique shops and thrift stores and book shops….and the Beat Nik era came too this area also, so you go to Bishop street today there it was in 1957 to 1968….only Bishop arts is not that artistic, it has great food places, just where is the original good taste theater…which is what Stanley did,… he created concepts of Original Theater….and good people…..
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Why didn’t they give any Credit to Applied Arts Studios the owner was Horst Rosenberg that built the fortnight’s that launched Neiman Marcus to world recognition.
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GREAT point Pete!
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My name is Merle Cunningham and was hired in the early 50’s to take charge of the mens displays in conjunction with Guy Malloy over the women’s displays.I retired in 1998 and had the job of working with Alvin Colt on the Fortniights and opening 30 stores over U.S. I received 12 international awards for my efforts. I worked closely with Stanley Marcus and the advertising department. It was a wonderful life and I am still in good health at 95 years old. I run 3 miles a day and do not take any medicamtion.
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Thanks for commenting, Merle. You HAVE had a wonderful life! Keep it up!
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