Norell Tassel Floral Dragonfly and Ladybug Midi Dress
View Similar Items
Norell Tassel Floral Dragonfly and Ladybug Midi Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:Norell Tassel
- Dimensions:Length: 55 in (139.7 cm)Bust: 38 in (96.52 cm)Waist: 32 in (81.28 cm)Hip: 52 in (132.08 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Carmel, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4171451573
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.
- James Galanos for Amelia Gray Print Silk Day Dress 1960'sBy James GalanosLocated in Carmel, CAJames Galanos for Amelia Gray of Beverly Hills silk broadcloth ladies day dress with beautiful floral print. Dress features a dropped waist and matching fabric neck tie or belt (show...Category
1970s American Informal Dresses
$500 Sale Price23% Off - Jean Paul Gaultier Femme Explicit HOT SEX Top DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Carmel, CAThis iconic piece, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for Jean Paul Gaultier Femme in the 1990's, is showcased in taupe with navy letters throughout, as well as navy stitching at the trim. Top reads "HOT SEX...Category
1990s Italian Blouses and Tops
- Oscar de la Renta 2006 Resort Beaded Linen DressBy Oscar De La RentaLocated in Carmel, CAOscar de la Renta dress is featured in a linen-blend fabric with beautiful bead detailing that borders the neckline and goes around the waist. Dress has a back zipper and hook-and-ey...Category
Early 2000s Italian Day Dresses
- Carter Smith Shibori Obiko San Francisco 4 Piece Dress EnsembleLocated in Carmel, CAShibori Maxi Dress Ensemble from the legendary San Francisco Art to Wear Mecca, Obiko. Ensemble includes 4 pieces. : turban style head piece, with Head Piece, Necklace, dress, chiffo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Dress and Coat Ensembles
- Leonard Paris Firework Print DressBy LeonardLocated in Carmel, CALeonard Paris silk jersey vintage mini dress features a vibrant firework print throughout with a ruched bodice, made of 100% silk jersey, and has button ...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- Courreges Paris Demi Couture Numbered Colorblock 1960's DressBy André CourrègesLocated in Carmel, CACourreges vintage 1960's color block structured wool dress features button closures along the front, faux pockets at the waist and fully lined. Made in France. Excellent condition. ...Category
1960s French Aesthetic Day Dresses
- New Chanel Baby Pink Silver Studded Embellished Dress Size 38By ChanelLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLThe ultimate in fashion making luxury craftsmanship. The Iconic House of Chanel always provides us with timeless and classic pieces. The beautiful dress takes timeless creation to a ...Category
2010s French Cocktail Dresses
- Documented 1982 Yves Saint Laurent multicolor striped dressBy Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in CULEMBORG, GEWhen Yves Saint Laurent visited Morocco for the first time in 1966 it changed his life forever. Struck by its beauty he immediately acquired a house in Marrakech and stayed there at least two times a year to design his collections. Yves Saint Laurent once said: ‘Marrakech opened my eyes to color.’ The colors of the stained glass windows and beamed ceilings of the Bahia Palace in Marrakech are a perfect example what inspired him when designing this particular dress for his Rive Gauche collection that came out in 1982. The exciting mix of vivid colors Yves Saint Laurent used designing this dress have a pattern of vertical stripes in lively red, purple indigo, apple green and Dijon yellow alternated with thin black and white stripes. Adding a pussy bow and bishop sleeves gives the entire look an elegant feel. The high quality silk is in a very good vintage condition and has been professionally cleaned and pressed. The state of this unique Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche dress is very good, only a small piece of the original mother-of-pearl button left hand button has chipped off (see the last photograph), but can be easily replaced. As you wish we can replace this with a new button without charging extra costs. The dress that was also featured in Vogue magazine in a 1982 Yves...Category
1980s French Casual Dresses
- Jean Paul Gaultier Asian print mesh maxi dress, early 2000sBy Jean Paul Gaultier SoleilLocated in Milano, IT- Early 2000s - Sold by Sfok.Archive - Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil - Asian print mesh maxi dress - Fitted to the body Size : FR 36 - IT 40 - UK 8 - US 4 (EU) Materials : 100% NYLON...Category
Early 2000s Italian Informal Dresses
$1,670 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage 1980’s Callaghan wool jersey dress with corduroy detail & leather beltBy CALLAGHANLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUThis beautiful, vintage early 1980's Callaghan wool jersey dress with unique corduroy detail to the cuffs and bind on the raglan sleeve is designed by Gianni Versace when he was work...Category
1980s Italian Aesthetic Day Dresses
- Le Nard 1980s Belted Long Sleeve Feather Print DressLocated in Scottsdale, AZStep into the bold and vibrant spirit of the 1980s with our Le Nard Belted Long Sleeve Feather Print Dress—a statement piece that fuses fun, nostalgia, and contemporary style. This m...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- Rikma Angel Wing 70's Striped DressBy RikmaLocated in Scottsdale, AZThe beautiful details of this Rikma dress will have you hooked. This dress features a high-neck, maxi length, billowy sleeves, pendant depicting a Hanukkah...Category
1970s Israeli Maxi Dresses