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Vintage Bill Blass Black Velvet Gold Metallic Halter Strapless Evening Dress

Name: Vintage Bill Blass Black Velvet Gold Metallic Halter Strapless Evening Dress
Brand: Bill Blass
Price: 1400 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Before there was Halston, there was Bill Blass as the epitome of American style. Blass’ rise around the 1940s led him to be one of the most prominent women’s designers for multiple brands such as Anne Klein and Anna Miller. Blass’ reputation and keen eye for fit and detail led him to be in high demand upon acquiring his own company in the late 1960s. Presumably from the late 80s/early 90s, this Blass evening dress is done in a gold lamé and silk blend and a black velvet bodice for a glamorous and sophisticated color combination. With two lengths of gold fabric gathered into the waist, the bodice of this dress can be styled in various ways. It can be styled in a sportier option as a halter framing the black velvet at the bust or it can be worn as an elegant strapless. The dress has an overall columnar silhouette with slight definition at the waist. Centre front gathers provide additional dimension and as statuesque feel to the dress. This two-in-one dress is an excellent evening wardrobe addition that is both easy to wear and stunning to see. Measurements: Bust: 34 inches Waist: 24 inches Hips: 34.5 inches Length: 52 inches measured from top velvet front panel to bottom Because of the open back, an elastic strap runs across to secure it in place. This strap can easily be covered when styled as the strapless option. The skirt of the dress closes at centre back with a waistband snap and a concealed zip. At the hem, a slit is placed for ease of motion. The velvet bodice is lined in a black silky rayon while the remainder of the dress is unlined. In very good condition, there are some signs of wear to the gold lamé fabric. Professionally eco dry cleaned and pressed, high-quality vintage pieces like this are yours to live in and love while increasing in value every year. It’s never too soon to start collecting them, as an investment in your wardrobe—and in yourself.

Designer:

Bill Blass

Brand:

Bill Blass

Dimensions:

Marked Size: small (US)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 24 in (60.96 cm)Hip: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1980-1989

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Boca Raton, FL

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU7309832262

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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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