1960s Norman Norell Midnight Blue Wool Jersey Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 39 in (99.06 cm)Marked Size: Small (US)Bust: 32 in (81.28 cm)Waist: 25 in (63.5 cm)Hip: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Style:dress (In the Style Of)
- Period:
- Condition:Excellent.
- Seller Location:Boca Raton, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7301265013
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: Boca Raton, FL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- 1930s Black and Blue Batik Floral Print Strappy Sleeveless Maxi Dress / GownLocated in Boca Raton, FLA stunning 1930s taffeta maxi dress. I love the blue batik floral print against the black background. The multiple thin straps from the shoulders and down to the mid back are sexy a...Category
1930s Unknown Day Dresses
- Missoni Runway 2004 Silk Colorful Fringe Scarf / Cape DressBy MissoniLocated in Boca Raton, FLThis dress ; a beautiful creation from Missoni, as seen on the runway. I love the colorful abstract painted print on silk. Long silk fringe panels. Size estimate: S Measurements: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Missoni Multicolored Dress with Matching Ruffle Collar and BeltBy MissoniLocated in Boca Raton, FLMissoni multicolored black metallic striped long sleeve dress with a detachable ruffle collar and a matching braided four strand rope belt. Elastic c...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses
- 1970s Leonard Paris Silk Jersey Print belted Tunic Mini DressBy Leonard of ParisLocated in Boca Raton, FLCaptivating and vivacious, Leonard prints always add an element of fun to fashion. Their outrageous prints have become historic and are not only the source of brand identity but also...Category
1970s French Mini Dresses
- Pauline Trigere Silk Floral Metallic Bell Sleeve Caftan Maxi Dress, 1970sBy Pauline TrigèreLocated in Boca Raton, FLThe Trigère aesthetic is one of carefully crafted lines, and generally small extravagant details. However, Madame Trigère’s evening designs spared no detail in craftsmanship nor intr...Category
1970s Kaftans
- Comme des Garcons Short Sleeve Sculpted Pleats Denim DressBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Boca Raton, FLDenim is masterfully rethought in this avant-garde Tricot Comme des Garçons day dress . The utilitarian textile in a rich indigo blue is gathered, pleated and ruffled to take on a lightweight appearance in the pretty knee-length silhouette. The bodice alone is genius in its intricacy with its puffed short sleeves trimmed in sweet pleats, its asymmetrical center front finished with a ruffle of raw fringe and its abundance of gathers that meet at the seams to create a traditional fitted-waist silhouette minus any of the normal dress pattern...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Day Dresses
- ALAÏA 1990 black knitted mini dressBy Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Genève, CHAlaïa knitted mini dress with sheer raised edge skirt -Back closing with a hidden set zipper -Long sleeves -Nude knitted lining -Made in Italy -100% V...Category
1990s Italian Mini Dress
- ALBERTO BINI 1990 leather mini dress with gold tone Lion NEW with tagBy AlbertoLocated in Genève, CHThis vintage dress from Alberto Bini is coming directly from the 90s, and it's also a beautiful ode to Versace universe. -Lion detail in metal gold tone ...Category
1980s French Mini Dress
- YVES SAINT LAURENT BY TOM FORD S/S 2002 Runway Sheer Silk Two-PieceBy Yves Saint Laurent, Tom Ford for Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Berlin, BEThis leopard print two piece was the opening look for Yves Saint Laurent’s Spring Summer 2002 Rive Gauche collection by Tom Ford. This elegant two-piece consists of a high waisted silk pencil skirt and a zip up sleeveless silk top in a classic leopard print. This safari inspired set features beautiful details such as the YSL logo on the right side of the front of the bodice, and also embossed on the zipper. The bodice features a deep V neckline, multiple pockets on the front and drawstrings at the sides, the back features a transparent panel...Category
Early 2000s French Twin Sets
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Vintage Off-Shoulder Black Dress 1990sBy Chanel BoutiqueLocated in Berlin, BEThe perfect little black vintage dress by Chanel. This classic beauty is a 1990s piece designed by Karl Lagerfeld. This elegant Chanel dress is an incredible classic that will truly...Category
1990s French Mini Dresses
- Chanel Ribbon Embellished Maxi Runway Lace Dress Cruise 2014 14C $7, 750By ChanelLocated in Merced, CAChanel ribbon embellished runway maxi dress from Chanel Cruise 2014 runway collection. It is adorned with Chanel interlocking CC logo emblem. It is ...Category
20th Century French Maxi Dresses
- Chanel Braided Trim Tweed Maxi Dress Interlocking CC logo Buttons 42 12P 2012By ChanelLocated in Merced, CAChanel braided trim maxi dress adorned with interlocking CC logo buttons. This is pre-owned in excellent condition. It retails $13,620 before tax. Color is beautiful blend of navy bl...Category
20th Century French Maxi Dresses
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Why Norman Norell Was Dubbed the “American Balenciaga”
Check out six essential styles from the man who redefined ready-to-wear.
Fiercely Fabulous, This Givenchy Tiger-Print Coat Graced the Pages of ‘Vogue’ in 1969
Impeccably tailored and beautifully preserved, the piece will be cherished by a true fashion-phile.