Julie Elber

That's like $78.

And there's a lot of people in the world that can't afford to buy a McArdle because they weren't cheap.

She released sewing patterns through the Spadia Sewing Pattern Company in the early 50s through the mid 50s.

And she was a believer in getting her designs out to the masses because Claire McArdle's designs were really supposed to help you live better.

Part of it was that she was really the breadwinner in the family.

Her husband was kind of a ne'er-do-well.

When they got married, Claire became not just the breadwinner, but she was also stepmother to his kids while she's running this big business.

But somehow they worked it out, and it was apparently a love match.

Was he handsome?

Extremely handsome.

Very, very socially adept.

He would take her out dancing at the rooftop of the St.

Regis, and he knew a lot of people.

And really, she was this very introverted person, and so he gave her this really wonderful social life.

I got together with my friend Jenny Rushmore, who runs the Cashmere at Pattern Company.

These are a couple of different versions of this dress that I made.