NWT 1990s Bill Blass Size 10 Brown + Gold Alligator Vintage One Piece Swimsuit
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 10 (US)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6625666451
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.
Find vintage Bill Blass fashion on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Lanvin 2011 Alber Elbaz Tan Caramel One Shoulder Grecian Bodysuit or SwimsuitBy Alber Elbaz, Lanvin ParisLocated in San Diego, CAExceptional LANVIN by ALBER ELBAZ Grecian inspired one shoulder bodysuit or one piece swimsuit! Wonderful draping throughout the bodice, w/ a ruched waistband. Simply step into this ...Category
2010s Italian Swimwear
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Ivory + Gold Vintage 80s One Piece SwimsuitBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful and classic early 1980s YVES SAINT LAURENT ivory / off-white and gold seashell print one piece halter swimsuit / bodysuit! Features a flattering ruched waist that hides any...Category
1980s French Swimwear
- 1960s Gottex Black Sheer Cut - Out Sexy One Piece 60s Vintage Swimsuit BodysuitBy GottexLocated in San Diego, CASexy and rare 1960s GOTTEX black one piece swimsuit or bodysuit with sheer cut-out sides! Features a high neck with an open back. Black on black polka dot print. Semi sheer cut-outs ...Category
1960s American Swimwear
- Yves Saint Laurent Size 12 / 14 Vintage Sexy Hot Pink + Black One Piece SwimsuitBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in San Diego, CASexy vintage YVES SAINT LAURENT hot pink and black plunging halter one piece swimsuit or bodysuit! Features a flattering ruched bodice with a plunging neckline. Plastic clasp at top ...Category
Late 20th Century French Swimwear
- Bill Blass 1990s Black Sexy Cut Out Size 6 / 8 One Piece 90s Swimsuit BodysuitBy Bill BlassLocated in San Diego, CASexy early 90s BILL BLASS one piece Grecian style swimsuit or bodysuit ! Features a metallic gold and silver rope cut-out detail ( one side light gold, the other silver ) down the fr...Category
1990s American Swimwear
- New w/ Tags 1980s Bill Blass Size 8 One Black One Piece 80s Swimsuit / BodysuitBy Bill BlassLocated in San Diego, CAFlattering and chic deadstock ( never worn with original tags ) late 1980s vintage BILL BLASS one shoulder one piece swimsuit or bodysuit ! Features a flamenco style neckline with th...Category
1980s American Swimwear
- Silk Crepe Caftan, Renata, ParisLocated in New York, NYRenata Silk Crepe Caftan in chocolate brown with orange piping. Garment is basically a large rectangle of silk crepe folded in half at shoulder, and tacked ...Category
1970s French Loungewear
- Torso Creations Camo Print Cotton & Hand-Crochet Halter BraletteBy Torso CreationsLocated in Gresham, ORTorso Creations camouflage-print cotton bralette with hand-crochet peek-a-boo ring detailing. Ties at neck and back to accommodate up to a Medium size...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Bikinis
- F/W 2004 Christian Dior by John Galliano Brown Cheetah Print Silk Blend RobeBy Christian Dior, John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a brown cheetah print Christian Dior robe, designed by John Galliano. From the Fall/Winter 2004 'gambler' collection, this robe boasts a cheetah print that was heavily used in the collection 1. While this is a dressing robe...Category
Early 2000s French Robes
- Gianni Versace Mare 1992 Buffalo Bill Native American Theme Swimsuit Bodysuit 44By Gianni VersaceLocated in Chicago, ILDesigned by Gianni Versace for the Fall/Winter 1992 collection. This unique (possibly controversial) print was featured on button up tops for that season’s runway show and produced o...Category
1990s Italian Swimwear
- EMILIO PUCCI c.1969 Yellow Multicolor Op Art One-Piece Bathing Suit SwimsuitBy Emilio PucciLocated in Thiensville, WIBrand / Manufacturer: Emilio Pucci Circa: 1969 Designer: Emilio Pucci Style: One-piece swimsuit Color(s): Shades of yellow, black, pink, white Lined: No Marked Fabric Content: "100% ...Category
1960s Italian Swimwear
- Christian Dior x John Galliano Grey Metallic Vintage 90's Rare SwimsuitBy John Galliano for Christian DiorLocated in Miami, FLChristian Dior x Galliano Swim Suit One Piece Metallic Grey New No Tags Size: US 8, EU 40 (It fits like a size US 6-8 or Small-Medium --vintage US size...Category
1990s French Swimwear