Victor, Sally, 1905-1977 (1905-1977)
Dates
- Existence: 1905-1977
Biography
During the 1930's, 40's and the early 50's, when hats were considered required accessories for well-dressed women, Sally (Josephs) Victor (1905 - 1977) was among the foremost American milliners. She first started making hats at Macy's in 1924, then for L. Bamberger & Co. In 1927 Sally married Sergiu F. Victor, a hat manufacturer. In the late 1920's and early 1930's she worked designing hats for him. Opening in 1934 on 53rd Street in New York, Sally Victor's own millinery business grew to become on of the largest hat companies in the USA. She was one of the members of the Edward C. Blum Design Laboratory, and often used the Brooklyn Museum's collections to draw inspiration for her designs. She was so connected with the Design Lab that she participated in several collaborative exhibitions at the museum. Her work is characterized by a special quirkiness that could often be traced back to interesting sources such as Native American tribes, the artist Henri Matisse or Japanese armor. She also combined traditional hat-making materials such as felt and silk with new synthetic materials in unique ways. In the early 1950's Victor's Airwaves hat, which resembled a cut-out pie crust, was popularized when Mamie Eisenhower wore one to the Presidential inauguration. A new, lower-cost line which was geared toward a younger customer, Sally V, was launched in the 1950's. The business closed in 1965. According to her May 16, 1977 obituary in the ''New York Times,'' Victor described her mission simply as "designing pretty hats that make women look prettier."
Places
Found in 48 Collections and/or Records:
Sally Victor photographs, Spring-Fall 1964
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats from 1964. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side. Also, included are descriptive reports for press releases and a newspaper press release.
Sally Victor photographs, Spring-Fall 1965
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats from 1965. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side. Also, included are descriptive reports for press releases.
Sally Victor photographs, Spring-Fall 1966
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats from 1966. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side. Also, included are descriptive reports for press releases.
Sally Victor photographs, Spring-Fall 1967
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats from 1967. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side. Also, included are descriptive reports for press releases.
Sally Victor photographs, undated
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women, girls and a mannequin head wearing Victor hats. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side.
Sally Victor photographs, undated
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats. Most photographs include typed descriptions attached and some have handwritten notes on the reverse side.
Sally Victor photographs, undated, undated
This folder contains black and white photographs depicting clothed women wearing Victor hats for film costumes. Some photographs include typed descriptions attached and have handwritten notes on the reverse side. Also, included is a cardboard with handwritten notes.
Sally Victor scrapbook, 1933-1966, 1933-1966
This folder contains a scrapbook that includes magazine press releases that date from 1941-1965. Also, included is a black and white photograph depicting a clothed woman wearing a Victor hat.