Costumes for chorus girls back when they were a bit more covered up. Taken from a ca. 1940 Maharam “The House of Service” catalogue. They had locations in New York City and Chicago.

Drawings and sketches 4 Minutes
Fairy Queen (Chorus-Novelty). WINGS – Rainbow Jap (sic) Silk trimmed with Gold Metal Lawn; CROWN – Gold Metal Lawn; LEOTARD – Red Velveteen. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Front cover of Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Musical Comedy (High Kick – Pageant – Chorus). HAT – Blue Cotton Back Satin – Silver Sandal Lace Edging. TIE – Silver Jewel Cloth. BRASSIERE and TRUNK – Silver Jewel Cloth – Blue Chiffon. CAPE – Blue Cotton Back Satin – Blue Chiffon Ruffles. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Bal-Masque (Parade – Chorus). HAT – Star Jewel Cloth, Silver with Stars. EPAULLETS – Silver Jewel Cloth. CAPE – Rhinestone Star Satin. Leotard – Red Velveteen. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Sophisticate (Novelty – Tap – High Kick). SLEEVE – Purple Triplex Satin. BRASSIERE – Red Triplex Satin. SKIRT – Purple Triplex Satin lined with Red Rayon. BELT – Red Triplex Satin. TRIMMINGS – Silver Jewel Cloth Applique. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Polar Princess (Toe – High Kick). CAP, CAPE, and SKIRT – Jewel Cloth lined with Red Velveteen – Trimmed with Fur Cloth and Pom Pom. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St
Mexican (Novelty). SOMBRERO – Red Patent Leather. WAIST – Candy Stick Satin. TRUNKS – Black Velveteen. DETACHABLE SKIRT – Arabian Satin. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St 
Witch (Novelty). BODICE – Yellow Cotton Back Satin Black Patent Leather Trimmings. HAT – Black Patent Leather – Yellow Cotton Back Satin – Pom Pom. BUTTONS – Black Cotton Back Satin. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St   
Truckin’ (Trucking – Strut – Jazz). HAT – Black Patent Leather. Gold Metal Lawn Band. BODICE – Black Panne Satin. COLLAR – Gold Metal Lawn and Green Panne Satin. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St   
Lassie (Tap). SHAWL HAT – Black Panne. KILTS AND BODICE – Plaid. BRUSH – Black Cellophane Fringe – Red Panne Satin. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St   
Aloha (Chorus – Solo). BRASSIERE – Emerald Triplex Satin. Applique of flowers. SKIRT – Green Cellophane or Green Raffia. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St    
Chic (Tap – Strut). SKIRT and SLEEVE – Red Cello Weave. BOLERO – Black Velveteen. Yellow and Red Moderne Krinkle.   Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St    
Cutie (Tap – Strut). HAT – Green and Rose Velveteen. JACKET – Rose Velveteen. TRUNK – Gold Cotton Back Lahm. TRIMMINGS – Cokefeathers. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St  
  
Fairy Princess (Tap – Toe – Novelty). BODICE – Green Cotton Back Satin. SKIRT and SLEEVE – White Cotton Back Satin, Gold Star Applique. WING – Gold Metal Lawn. Costume design from Maharam Costume Sketches, a catalogue by MAHARAM, The House of Service. 107 West 48th Street, New York. 6 East Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, promoting the company’s line of costumes for chorus girls. ca. 1940s. Image © 2025 White Fox Rare Books And Antiques. Fair use license. via https://www.whitefoxrarebooks.com/product/10423/Maharam-Costume-Sketches-Maharam-The-House-of-Service-107-West-48th-St-6-East-Lake-St  

https://archive.pinupmagazine.org/articles/gogo-graham-and-sharifa-morris-maharam A fun article with many illustrations showing how one of today’s costume designers got inspired by Maharam’s old catalogues.
  

Published by sarahbguestperry

On a voyage to see how much mileage I can get from the creative ability and eye for images that my family thought was useless. On line art curator, fiction writer and now blogger. Historian's daughter. Follow me . . .even I have no idea where I'm going next.

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