Fashion Portraits: Dolly Tree’s Hostess Slack Suit for LIBELED LADY (1936)

Well, it’s certainly been a little while since I’ve done a “Fashion Portraits” themed blog post, but here I am, and with some lovely Ted Allan shots from Libeled Lady (1936).

Harlow posed for these costumed publicity photos on set during the film’s production in summer 1936:

This beautifully structured Dolly Tree creation was designed for Harlow’s Libeled Lady character, Gladys Benton. One nice little touch are the “G.C.” monogrammed initials at the suit’s waist; of course, these initials are Gladys’ married ones. We can take a good look at them in this excellently lit portrait:

Luckily, there’s a lot out there on the details of this gorgeous slack suit, thanks in part to this article by Associated Press journalist Hubbard Keavy from that September, just prior to the film’s wide release:

I can imagine this yellow gabardine with brown piping looked simply stunning against Jean’s brownette hair; this would be her last outing with it before her locks were lightened to a shade of golden blonde for her role in Personal Property (1937).

Being an ardent lover of slacks, Jean doesn’t seem to be exaggerating when she says they are much more comfortable than gowns; after all, she was certainly adept in wearing them and helped usher them into fashion history at the top of the decade.

Without further ado, here’s the last two from this set for your viewing pleasure:

You may also recognize this suit from a July 7 sitting with Ted Allan in which Harlow promoted Max Factor’s line of “Color Harmony” products. These were likely all taken the same day:

You can read more about this 1936 Max Factor ad campaign here.

As usual, Dolly Tree outdid herself with her costume design on Libeled Lady. She had a knack for lending a spectacular amount of personality to whoever she dressed; Myrna Loy and Harlow shared her as a designer well through 1936 for the same films, and both of them look entirely unique and in their own element. Yet each costume is still so indicative of Dolly Tree! Alright, I’ll stop gushing, but I have to admit Tree has been the hand behind my favorite on-screen Harlow gowns (sorry, Adrian!).

Until next time!