Bill Blass 1970s
View Similar Items
Bill Blass 1970s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: S/M (US)Bust: 36 in (91.44 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Hip: 36 in (91.44 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 28 in (71.12 cm)Inseam: 28 in (71.12 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Phoenix, AZ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: AU140120722592
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.
- Vivienne Westwood pink floral printed maxi skirt and blouse ensemble, ss 2001By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood pink floral printed ensemble. Maxi skirt and draped blouse with asymmetric cut. Spring-Summer 2001Category
Early 2000s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Paul Daunay gold lamé jacquard couture evening ensemble, c. 1960By Paul DaunayLocated in London, GBPaul Daunay gold lamé jacquard couture evening ensemble comprising: long-line waistcoat lined with purple silk and high rise a-line skirt with inverted pleats and two side pockets. ...Category
1960s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Issey Miyake multicoloured mesh and lycra skirt and top set, ss 2002By Issey MiyakeLocated in London, GB▪ Issey Miyake multicoloured mesh and lycra skirt and top set ▪ Vest with ruched back and bust panels ▪ Mid-length skirt with ruched seams and handkerchief hemline ▪ JP 3 / EU + US M...Category
Early 2000s Japanese Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Prada embellished orange silk organza top and skirt set, fw 1999By Prada, Miuccia PradaLocated in London, GB▪ Prada 2-piece set ▪ Creative Director: Miuccia Prada ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Fall-Winter 1999 ▪ Constructed from orange silk organza ▪ Beaded leaf-shaped organza appli...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vivienne Westwood 'Voyage to Cythera' harlequin leggings and shirt set, fw 1989By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood harlequin ensemble. Loose fit cotton shirt and high waist fitted leggings. ''Voyage to Cythera'' Fall-Winter 1989Category
1980s British Trouser Pant Suits
- Dolce & Gabbana black 3-piece ensemble with ostrich feathers, A/W 1995By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB- Silk chiffon loose fitted blouse with ostrich feather trim on collar and cuffs (IT42-FR-38-UK10) - Black satin bra with lace trim and adjustable straps...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns