Adrian Labels: History and How to Date Them
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Gilbert Adrian (1903 to 1959) was MGM's star costume designer before opening his own house in Beverly Hills in the early 1940s. His retail labels date only from then until his retirement in 1952, so a genuine Adrian label places a piece in a ten-year window.
Company history
The Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) records that Adrian joined MGM in 1928 and designed costumes for over 230 films, including Joan Crawford's big-shouldered look. Our 1930s hub describes how his white organdie dress for Crawford in Letty Lynton (1932) set off a craze for wide shoulders (citing FIT). He left MGM to open his own design house and shop: the VFG gives 1942, while our 1940s hub gives 1941 for Adrian Ltd. (citing Wikipedia). Both agree he retired because of illness in 1952.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Original | 1941 or 1942 to 1952 | Ready-to-wear, sold at first in 25 US stores |
| Adrian Custom | 1941 or 1942 to 1952 | Made for a specific client or in very small runs |
What it helps date
- Sharp, strong-shouldered suits are the 1940s Adrian look.
- Compare the shoulder line with wartime rules and the 1947 New Look described in the 1940s hub.
- Labels on famous names get moved or faked: designer label fakes.
Values
The 1940s hub counts 11 Adrian suits and dresses at Augusta Auctions from $187 to $2,875, median $1,125, and notes the same wartime suit shape sells for about $50 unlabelled and over $1,000 with an Adrian label. Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for adrian vintage suit on eBay
Sources
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