1960s Day Dress by Shannon Rodgers XS

A hallmark 1960s Shannon Rodgers floral, this piece is rendered on crisp, textured cotton piqué - a fabric that gives the print structure and a refined texture. The pattern sits on a deep chocolate-brown ground and features a dense scatter of softly blurred roses and blossoms in dusty pink, brick red, teal, sage, and antique tan. While reminiscent of traditional English Liberty motifs, it has Rodgers’ unmistakable American polish: romantic yet practical, rich without feeling fussy.

The autumnal palette and painterly detailing are classic early-1960s ready-to-wear, the kind of dark-ground floral that defined sophisticated day dresses of the era. On piqué, the design gains quiet depth and photographs beautifully, giving the dress a timeless, slightly textured finish.

The silhouette features a square neckline, a gently fitted bodice, and a four-gore A-line skirt with soft gathers at the front hips. The dress pulls on overhead and closes at the center front with a metal zipper and fabric-covered buttons - a charming, period-correct detail that completes the look.

Label: Designed by Shannon Rodgers
ILGWU union label, Made in USA

Modern size equivalent: XS, X-Small

Actual measurements:
Bust 32"
Waist 23" 
Hips 42"
Sweep 100"
Armhole openings 13"
Bodice 15"
Length of skirting 25 1/2"
Total length 40 1/2"

Condition: Excellent overall with minor issues noted. The metal zipper does not look original. The matching belt shows light fraying at the hole and a small area where the belt buckle backing has separated. Please see images for details.

About the designer:
Shannon Rodgers began his career designing costumes for Broadway and Hollywood under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, including Cleopatra in 1934. By the late 1940s, he joined Jerry Silverman, and together in 1959, they launched Jerry Silverman, Inc., a label synonymous with refined, wearable American ready-to-wear fashion.

Their designs were favored by women of influence, including First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Pat Nixon, Princess Margaret, and public figures such as Bess Myerson. Their dresses represented a pinnacle of mid-century American style, blending elegance with everyday wearability.

Rodgers was honored as the first inductee into Kent State University’s Fashion Hall of Fame in 1989 and was elected a fellow of the Costume Society of America in 1991, affirming his lasting impact on fashion and costume design.

The significance of their work is recognized by major institutions: garments by Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman are housed in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and their extensive costume collection was generously donated to Kent State University. The Rodgers and Silverman legacy continues through the Kent State University Museum and the School of Fashion Design, one of the country’s leading fashion programs.

This dress is not only a wearable piece of 1960s fashion, but also part of a distinguished lineage tied to American cultural, fashion, and design history.

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