Vintage Mary McFadden Couture Black + White Fortuny Pleated Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4 (US)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU662585452
Mary McFadden
Less could have been expected from a well-bred society girl like Mary McFadden, who stepped out of the safe confines of the haut monde to create iconic designs for evening dresses, jackets, skirts and other items inspired by ancient and ethnic cultures and traditions. Fashion, in fact, was not initially on her agenda.
“I fell into it backwards,” she told the New York Times in 1979.
Born in New York but raised on a cotton plantation in Memphis, Tennessee, McFadden spent a few months at the Traphagen School of Fashion in 1956 and moved on to study sociology and anthropology at Columbia University. Afterward, she spent a short period of time in public relations at Christian Dior during the early 1960s, but she was unsure exactly what would lie ahead for her. McFadden decided to relocate to South Africa with her first husband, who oversaw production of the De Beers mines. While there, she began to design her own clothing — tunics that featured African prints, made of silk she’d found in Madagascar — because she couldn’t find anything that suited her.
In 1970, following two divorces, McFadden returned to her native New York City and was offered a job as an editor at Vogue magazine. Her colleagues admired the sophisticated garments she made in South Africa and had been wearing to work, and the magazine staffers pleaded to feature her designs, which meant she’d need to go into business in order to make them available to readers. So, in 1973, McFadden took the jump, soon becoming known for refreshing kimono-shaped jackets and richly colored pleated dresses that evoke the freedom of a Greek chiton — a far cry from the dull routine office attire for working women at the time. A collection of jewelry followed, and in 1977, McFadden patented her “marii” fabric, a pleated synthetic charmeuse that fell “like liquid gold on the body, like Chinese silk.”
In 1976, McFadden won her first Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, and a few years later, she entered the Coty Award Hall of Fame. While her business shuttered in the early 2000s, the beloved designer’s timeless styles endure.
Shop vintage Mary McFadden day dresses, accessories and jewelry on 1stDibs today.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Hussein Chalayan Fall / Winter 2003 Runway Sz 4 Bondage Inspired Y2K Mini DressBy Hussein ChalayanLocated in San Diego, CARare HUSSEIN CHALAYAN Fall / Winter 2003 Runway bondage inspired mini dress ! I purchased this sexy archival dress for my baby sister in the early 2000s...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1950s Black and Red Silk Brocade Flower Print Off Shoulder Vintage 50s DressLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful vintage late 50s demi couture silk brocade black and red off-the-shoulder cocktail dress ! Features lipstick red prints of flowers and orig...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses
- 1970s Black Jersey Jeweled Rhinestone Belt Long Sleeve Vintage 70s Dress LBDLocated in San Diego, CAChic 1970s black jersey long sleeve slinky dress ! Features an attached belt with jewel and rhinestone encrusted buckle. Jewels are vibrant colors of turquoise blue, purple, green and amber orange...Category
1970s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1960s Kiki Hart Black Silk Chiffon Hot Pink Gold Glitter Vintage 60s Gown DressBy Kiki Hart, Kiki Hart New YorkLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful 1960s KIKI HART black silk chiffon nude illusion evening gown ! Features sheer above the bust and sleeves. Full metal zipper up the back with hook-and-eye closure. Attached...Category
1960s American Evening Gowns
- Yves Saint Laurent 1970s YSL Rive Gauche Black Red Diamond Print Silk 70s DressBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in San Diego, CAChic late 70s YVES SAINT LAURENT silk dress and matching sash ! Features rounded diamond prints in red and cream. Hidden metal zipper up ...Category
1970s French Cocktail Dresses
- Gianni Versace Versus Spring 2001 Black Cut Out Sleeveless Vintage Jersey GownBy Donatella Versace, VersusLocated in San Diego, CASexy and iconic GIANNI VERSACE ‘VERSUS’ Spring 2001 black cut-out sleeveless vintage semi sheer jersey gown ! Buttons up the side and stretches to fit. Cut-out at top left front shou...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Gowns
- Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit bodycon dress and cardigan set, fw 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GB▪ Gianni Versace navy blue open-knit dress and cardigan 2 piece set ▪ Sleeveless bodycon maxi dress with lining ▪ Long-sleeve full-length cardigan ▪ Gold Medusa buttons ▪ Can be wo...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vivienne Westwood bronze stretch-velvet and gold foil printed dress, fw 1990By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood bronze stretch-velvet evening dress ▪ Gold foil neoclassical print inspired by Andre-Charles Boulle ▪ Concealed zipper at center-back ▪ Size Medium ▪ Fall-Winter...Category
1990s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2003 Corset Bustier Bra Bodycon Hook and Eye Black DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Naples, FLDolce & Gabbana Corset Bustier Bra Bodycon Hook and Eye Black Dress IT 38Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Dolce & Gabbana Vintage Special Edition Bodycon Corset Black Mini DressBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in Naples, FLDolce & Gabbana Vintage Special Edition Bodycon Corset Black Mini Dress IT 42 Dolce & Gabbana bodycon corset structured mini dress featuring lac...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mini Dress
- Gianfranco Ferre Favorite Avant Garde Beaded Blue Evening Dress NEWBy Gianfranco FerréLocated in Los Angeles, CAGianfranco Ferre's highly architectural avant garde creation, designed with an art deco influence, is truly unique and imaginative in an amazing innovative and structurally breathtak...Category
Early 2000s Evening Dresses
- Deadstock Bill Blass Fall 2008 Platinum Jacquard Evening Bustier Dress w TagBy Peter Som, Bill BlassLocated in Portland, ORThis is a Bill Blass beautiful deadstock platinum multi wood bustier evening dress from Peter Som's Fall/Winter 2008 debut collection for Bill Blass. The overall effect of the fabric...Category
Early 2000s American Cocktail Dresses