Figure 1.-- The First Lady admired Florence Eiseman's creations for the children. Here they are playing in the Oval Office wearing Eiseman's creations. Many of these photographs were taken when Jackie was out of town. She did not like the chikldren to be photographed for public release. The President enjoyed the children company and was not above using the children for political purpoes. The public loved these images. When they came ou Jackie was often upset and would come after press secretary Pierre Salinger who writes about it. We can assume that the President also caught a little of Jacki's ire, but he never wrote about it.

Florence Eiseman (1899–1988) was one of America's most notable and creative childwear visionaries. Her story is that of an untrained seamstress creating a high-end children's clothing line in a manufacturing city (Milwaukee). She launched what would become the leading high-end children’s clothing line in the United States (1945). She played a major role al in fashioning the fashionable look for the Post-War American child. Her eponymous brand influenced how Princess Grace of Monaco, Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, the Kennedys, and the Rockefellers dressed their younger children. Many well-to-do Americans were attracted to Europoean styles. Eiseman created competitice American styles. One fashion expert notes, "It was an East Coast thing. People were surprised to know it was created and designed in the Midwest." Her first big order was for pinafores. Her signature pieces for girls were jumpers (gym slips) with bold appliqué like flowers. She also liked sailor styles. She favored A-line silhouettes and as known for pinafores that could be buttoned to the front of dresses. For little boys she favored shoralls, sailor suits, and Eton suits. Eiseman's clean, bright and whimsical clothing became a signature look of childhood. Seersucker and corduroy were Eiseman's signature fabrics. Her creations sold at high-end department stores Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barneys. Eiseman wanted to dress children like children. Her dresses and shirt patterns came in basic, geometric shapes. She didn't believe children have waistlines or bellies. Each outfit came in bright, vivid colors. The garments moved and were comfortable enough for play. A Florence Eiseman made a child look like a child. Another fashion expert explained Eiseman's impact, "It came to define the look of an ideal childhood." Eiseman grments were well-crafted, quality garment. Little children grow so apidy that wjile they grow out of their clothes, they rarely werar them out. An Eiseman garment could be passed down from big to little sister. She was noted for designing coordinating outfits for little brothers and sisters. A fashion historian suggests that this reflecting society's turn toward family life during the baby boom following World War II. Eisman saw children as precious objects. Some of her Eiseman dresses made little girls look like 'presents wrapped up with a red bow'. More than anything she believed that children should look like children. She was highly critical of some other high-end lines whose outfits she thought turned children into miniature adults.

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Created: 2:59 AM 6/15/2019
Last updated: 2:59 AM 6/15/2019