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BillBlass 1970s TuxedoLike EcruSatinTrim BoldShoulder BlackWoolCrepe ShiftDress

Name: BillBlass 1970s TuxedoLike EcruSatinTrim BoldShoulder BlackWoolCrepe ShiftDress
Brand: Bill Blass
Price: 975 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Around 1970 when he introduced his eponymous brand after becoming a leading couture fashion designer among New York City society, American Bill Blass created this sleek tuxedo-like ecru-satin-trimmed long-sleeve black wool crepe shift dress. The thick shiny trim that creates a bold continuous neckline extending through the shoulders and arms is visible from the front around the bateau neck, thinly-padded shoulders and down the center, and from each side along the outer arms, and from the back just at the neck where the trim is parted by the invisible black zipper. The minimalist style with striped color blocking embodies the modern power dressing for women that Blass introduced in The States in sync with his international Paris-based peers Andre Courreges and Pierre Cardin, who were also making graphic geometric designs into the early 1970s. So no surprise that Blass became a favorite of the future American-president's wife Nancy Reagan, who was among the most politically powerful First Ladies. The seams along each side of the dartless torso of the dress, which drapes from the shoulders, are contoured in a slightly hourglass shape so that this tag-noted U.S.-size 10 will also fit a slim 12, or a wide 8 with larger breasts and hips or broad shoulders like a man. Please note that we photographed it on a small mannequin without a back so it will conform more tightly to the wearer. This dress is in excellent condition--possibly only worn once as we acquired it with an attached dry-cleaning tag. All original 1970s labels remain attached to the black lining, while the materials are only noted as "Made In U.S.A. Of Imported Fabric", with specific care instructions presumably to maintain the exterior satin and crepe textures. While the black fabric has a mostly wool content, the lining feels like a silk blend, as does the flawless exterior trim.

Designer:

Bill Blass

Brand:

Bill Blass

Dimensions:

Length: 37 in (93.98 cm)Marked Size: 10 (US)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Hip: 38 in (96.52 cm)

Style:

couture tuxedo (In the Style Of)

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1970-1979

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Chicago, IL

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU3244222031542

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Shop All Bill Blass

Bill Blass

Venerated designer and philanthropist Bill Blass helped define style for women of means during the late 20th century and inspired generations of fashion industry professionals and enthusiasts all over the world.

Blass designed garments that saw a playful mingling of notes both subdued and bold, and his clothes were comfortable, easy to wear and sexy. The Indiana native was influenced by the likes of Coco Chanel and became famous for refined, simple looks that appealed to prominent women such as Brooke Astor and Gloria Vanderbilt.

Blass didn’t endeavor to produce showstoppers — he worked with quality materials, and his modern designs boasted meticulous tailoring. He glamourized sportswear with chic lines and dramatic colors, and by way of subtle, graceful ruffles or a tasteful application of sequins, he introduced modest flair to his day dresses and evening dresses. Vintage Bill Blass clothing is just as relevant today as it was during the height of his career.

Blass, who spent his spare time sketching red-carpet looks in his school notebooks as a kid, left home at 17 and moved to New York City, where he trained at the McDowell School of Fashion. After finishing design school, he joined the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. When the war was over, Blass returned to Manhattan. In 1946 he joined the fashion house Anna Miller and Co., where he worked as a design assistant for Anna Miller and her brother Maurice Rentner.

Anna Miller and Co. merged with Maurice Rentner, Ltd. in 1959, and Blass became the company's head designer. There he quickly built a name for himself and was soon a staple of the postwar fashion scene, impressing even the fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar at the time, Diana Vreeland. Blass expanded into designing menswear and was the first couture designer in America to create a collection for men.

In 1970, Blass gained ownership of Rentner and renamed the company after himself. Blass employed a licensing-based business strategy, and soon his name marked a full array of accessories and apparel, including Bill Blass jeans, watches, home furnishings, eyewear and luggage. Blass's renown and success expanded considerably, as fashion bearing his name became more accessible than it had ever been.

Throughout his life, Blass made considerable contributions to the AIDS care center at Cornell Medical Center and to the New York Public Library. In 1962, he became a founding member of the Council of Fashion Designs of America (CFDA) trade association, which promotes American designers around the world. The CFDA presented Blass with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, and he was the first recipient of their Humanitarian Leadership Award in 1996.

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