Vintage Chartreuse & Multicolor Norman Norell Beaded Jumpsuit
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 51 in (129.54 cm)Marked Size: XS (US)Bust: 34 in (86.36 cm)Waist: 23 in (58.42 cm)
- Style:Vintage (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU147220018522
Norman Norell
The signature details that characterize vintage Norman Norell evening dresses include classically tailored silhouettes, feminine round necklines and tenderly applied beading, carefully inspected both inside and out. Pop culture icon Marilyn Monroe wore many of Norell’s classic dresses over the years. And as a young model for a Seventh Avenue clothing manufacturer, screen siren Lauren Bacall liked to scour the racks of Loehmann’s with her mother, looking for the odd piece by a famous designer like Norell.
Norell began his career in his early 20s, designing costumes for Paramount Pictures and Brooks Costume Company, as well as for esoteric vaudeville productions. The theater remained a major source of inspiration throughout his career. Often drenched in beads or sequins, a material that remained readily available despite wartime restrictions, his show-stopping mermaid gowns, a marriage of glitz and simplicity, harken back to the days of vaudeville. He continued to design these gowns until the end of his life.
Raised in a family of haberdashers, Norell was long-influenced by the cuts, fabrics and details of traditional menswear, and he sought to incorporate those concepts into his designs. In 1960, at a moment when women were not yet wearing pants to work, he made waves when he presented his then-controversial wool flannel culotte suit. Some years later, he designed a black dinner suit with a bow-tie, beating Yves Saint Laurent to the punch, and later still, he conceived a feminine version of an aviator jumpsuit.
A creature of habit, Norell stuck with many of his classic designs throughout his career, but he continued to experiment with avant-garde ideas for evening garments. This was perhaps most vividly expressed in his wild coats, runway crowd-pleasers adorned with ostrich feathers or massive red and pink flowers.
A fan of a full dirndl, Norell made skirts that ranged from delicately creased to voluminous balloons, and he frequently paired these with pleated blouses or tight turtlenecks. One of the first designers to incorporate traditional elements of sportswear into his evening attire, a typical Norell evening gown was divided into three separate colors: one for the top, one for the skirt and one for the sash. And vintage Norman Norell gowns are inherently versatile — they’re as modern today as they were decades ago. The little black dresses that Norell designed offered similar flexibility. Perfectly simple and sexy are the round necklines, which Norell introduced to declutter his dresses and allow for a more modern look.
Norell was the first American designer to have his name on a dress label and on a successful fragrance. He possessed a refined elegance and a quiet audacity that he expressed through timeless, wearable pieces boldly embellished with luxe trimmings. His work would come to redefine the American ready-to-wear industry and earn him the nickname the “American Balenciaga.” He received the inaugural Coty Award for womenswear and was the first designer inducted into the fashion industry critics’ hall of fame.
Find vintage Norman Norell day dresses, suits, jackets and other clothing on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Vintage Black Chanel Boutique Wool Trousers Size US XSBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYVintage black wool straight-leg trousers by Chanel Boutique. Dual hip pockets. Zip closure at front. 23" waist, 28" hips, 27" inseam, 13.5" rise, 40" length.Category
Late 20th Century Pants
- Charcoal Prada Virgin Wool Belted Pants Size IT 44By PradaLocated in New York, NYCharcoal virgin wool straight-leg pants by Prada. Circa 2018. Belt at waist. Side zip closure. 33" waist, 34" hips, 25" inseam, 4" rise, 34.5" length.Category
2010s European Pants
- Black Balenciaga Leather Skinny-Leg Pants Size EU 40By BalenciagaLocated in New York, NYBlack leather skinny-leg pants by Balenciaga. Four pockets. Zip and button closures at front. 32" waist, 34" hips, 30" inseam, 9.75" rise, 38" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Pants
- Grey Hermes Wide-Leg Pants Size EU 52By HermèsLocated in New York, NYGrey wide-leg pants by Hermes. Dual hip pockets. Drawstring at waist. Button closures at front waist. 41" waist, 44" hips, 29.75" inseam, 13.25" rise, 41.75" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Pants
- Black Chanel Fall/Winter 2006 Wool Pants Size FR 48By ChanelLocated in New York, NYBlack wool pants by Chanel. From the Fall/Winter 2006 Collection. Dual hip pockets. Fringe trim at leg openings. 42" waist, 46" hips, 27" inseam, 14.25" rise, 39.5" length.Category
Early 2000s European Pants
- Red Alice + Olivia Linen Cargo Pants Size US 8By Alice + OliviaLocated in New York, NYRed linen cargo pants by Alice + Olivia. Eight pockets. Zip and button closures at front. 32" waist, 36" hips, 34" inseam, 10.5" rise, 44.5" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Pants
- 1992 Gianni Versace Bondage Black Wool Jumpsuit with MedallionsBy Gianni VersaceLocated in New York, NYIconic 1992 Gianni Versace Black Wool and Silk Jumpsuit with original tags. Features Silk Faille Bands over Embroidered Net Bodice; Gold-tone Medallion Accents with inset Amber Color...Category
1990s Italian Jumpsuits
- Versace Love Printed Jeans Couture Spring / Summer 1995 Vintage PrintBy Versace Jeans CoutureLocated in London, GBVersace Love Printed Jeans Couture Spring / Summer 1995 Vintage Print Rare iconic Design and print by artist, Robert Indiana Iconic and sought-after Pop Art Love Printed Jeans ...Category
1990s Jeans
- Versace Vintage Checkered Printed TrousersBy VersaceLocated in London, GBVersace Vintage Checkered Printed Trousers Monochrome 90s Nostalgia Geometric Pattern Design. Some Stretch in Material High Waisted Fit. CONDITION: This item is a vintage/pre-wor...Category
1990s Pants
- Moschino Printed Peace & Love Monogram 90's TrousersBy MoschinoLocated in London, GBMoschino Printed Jeans Peace & Love Monogram 90's Trousers 90s Nostalgia Design. CONDITION: This item is a vintage/pre-worn piece so some signs of natural wear and age are to be...Category
1990s Pants
- Christian Lacroix Jeans Vintage Velvet High Waisted PantsBy Christian LacroixLocated in London, GBChristian Lacroix Jeans Vintage Velvet High Waisted Pants CONDITION: This item is a vintage/pre-worn piece so some signs of natural wear and age are to be expected. However good ge...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pants
- Jean-Paul Gaultier 1997 Printed Eye of Horus and Scarab Egyptian TrousersBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in London, GBJean-Paul Gaultier 1997 Printed Eye of Horus and Scarab Egyptian Trousers Vintage Iconic Print JPG Piece Lightweight Stretchy Material CONDITION: Th...Category
1990s Pants