Ever heard of Countess Alexander?  I hadn't either, but she's quite the fascinating woman!  Born in Providence, RI in 1914, Jennie Minnasian went to Paris at age 15, where she studied design and then apprenticed under Jean Patou.  She returned to America in 1939, due to the outbreak of WWII.  She married her husband, Victor Alexander, in 1940.  Reportedly, he was the son of a Turkish Pasha, a title equivalent to that of a European count, thus the name of the business, Countess Alexander.  She opened her business with one sewing machine in New York on the 4th floor of a non-elevator building on E. 47th St.  It was difficult to persuade buyers to climb the stairs, but eventually, Countess Alexandra's clothes were carried by more than 200 high-end specialty shops and department stores across the US, including Hattie Carnegie and Bergdorf Goodman.  By the late 1960s, Countess Alexander had 60 employees and turned out about 8,000 dresses a year.  Prices for a Countess Alexander dress in 1969 ranged from $250 - $2000.

This stunning suit by Countess Alexandra was sold by the high end shop Anna K. Lapides in New Haven.   Fashioned of midnight navy silk peau de soie, the jacket is accented with a bib of navy silk satin at the front and an underlay of satin that peeks out below the peplum.  The sleeve cuffs are also satin.  The jacket closes with self fabric covered buttons and the most intricate bound buttonholes I've ever seen. The front peplum has notches that are decorated with the same buttons.  There are tucks at the back waist of the jacket for a bit of added ease above the waist.  The straight skirt has a set-on waistband and side metal zipper.  Princess seams at the back skirt end in two kick pleats.  Both pieces are unlined.

CONTENTS & CARE: No labels – Silk – Dry clean – Comes to you freshly dry cleaned and ready to wear

SUIT MEASUREMENTS:
Jacket Bust – 38"
Waist – 29"
Length – 21”
Sleeve length – 21" cuffed
Shoulder to shoulder – 15 1/2"

Skirt Waist – 27"
Hips – 39"
Length – 29 1/2"

Will this suit fit you? To avoid disappointment and restocking fees, please read our Sizing Guide for complete measuring and fitting information.

CONDITION: Very Good – Freshly dry cleaned and ready to wear. There is one tiny pinprick size hole in the skirt front about 6" up from the hem.  There are impressions in the silk of the seams, darts, and hem from years of pressing at the dry cleaners. This is most noticeable at the skirt back and does not detract.

SHIPPING: Shipping cost for this suit is $11.00 in the US and $21.00 international.