An unidentified model wears Jean Harlow’s chiffon negligee from Personal Property and a mask by Richard Bernstein during Diana Vreeland’s Hollywood Costume exhibition at The Met, 1974. Photographed by Francesco Scavullo for Vogue, December 1974—photo courtesy of the Condé Nast Archive.
This achingly gorgeous Dolly Tree creation was called ‘dawn blue edged in silver lamé’ in MGM’s publicity releases for Personal Property, though it looks a bit on the silvery side here. Condé Nast’s archival caption, however, tells us the trimming is done in silver bugle beads, which are plainly visible zooming in.
Bugle beading was laborious and time-intensive, which might be why this design lived on to see features in museums and magazines; many of Harlow’s iconic MGM costumes, such as her ostrich-feathered robe from Dinner at Eight, weren’t as lucky, being recycled for use by extras or scrapped for parts.
This wouldn’t be the only bugle-beaded gown Dolly Tree designed for Harlow; another one with matching bolero was worn months later in Saratoga. Here is Harlow as she appears in this costume in Personal Property.
Harlow Heaven 