Vintage Bill Blass Navy Blue Knit Dress With Functional Red Zippers
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: See Description (NA)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Portland, OR
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beaverton, OR
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- 1920s Vintage Beaded Purple Paisley Dress With Red BeadsLocated in Portland, ORThis extraordinary 1920's vintage dress is lightweight wool in blue with a magenta, green and yellow paisley print design. Small red glass beads decorate along the hem and carry on t...Category
1920s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1970s Albert Nipon Vintage Dress in Black Satin With Ruff CollarBy Albert NiponLocated in Portland, ORThis beautiful vintage dress was designed by Albert Nipon in the 1970's. The dress is black satin with a ruff collar that has rows of topstitching. This is...Category
1970s American Day Dresses
- Vicky Tiel Peplum Top & Skirt Dress / Suit in Yellow & Black Abstract Silk PrintBy Vicky TielLocated in Portland, ORThis is a vintage Vicky Tiel Couture silk skirt suit originally purchased at Bergdorf Goodman in the 1980's. This lovely suit looks like a dress when worn. The outfit is in a 100% si...Category
1980s French Day Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent 1985 Blue Plaid Wool Challis Runway DressLocated in Portland, ORThis is an Yves Saint Laurent beautiful plaid wool dress from the YSL F/W 1985 collection. The dress has a saturated shades blue, purple and gold in a...Category
1980s Shift Dresses
- S/S 1986 Yves Saint Laurent Vintage YSL Botanical Blouse & Skirt 2 Pc DressBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis is a gorgeous floral and butterfly print two piece day dress from the Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 1986 collection. The matching top and skirt set...Category
1980s European Informal Dresses
- Yves Saint laurent Tonal White Print Silk Dress w Colorful Ovals & Polka DotsBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Portland, ORThis vintage Yves Saint Laurent dress from the 1980s is in an ivory tonal houndstooth tonal print with colorful abstract polka dots and ovals in shades of red, green, blue, purple, and orange. There is a side zipper closure and button closures on the bodice. The waistband is fixed with just the right amount of YSL pleating which is always perfectly done. The skirt is knife pleated and there are shoulder pads for structure. Yves Saint Laurent designed so many incredible pieces but some of our favorites are his printed silk day dresses. This gorgeous dress is a great example of YSL's eye for patterns and details. He designed these dresses with the thought that they could be belted with a variety of YSL belts...Category
1980s European Informal Dresses
- Comme Des Garçons Button-up Black Chiffon Shirt DressBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Berlin, BEComme Des Garçons Button-up Black Shirt Dress Brand: Comme Des Garçons Designer: Rei Kawakubo Collection/Year: 2000s Fabric: Cotton / Chiffon Color: Black Size: XS Japanese desig...Category
2010s Japanese Casual Dresses
- Vintage 1920's Gold Beaded Sequin Dress Flapper Dress UK 6-8 US 2-4Located in Cheltenham, GBFull of opulent original details, rendered in the most luxurious fashion, this rare 1920's piece is a beauty to behold and never again find. The rounded neckline of the dress, is fr...Category
1920s European Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 1920's Black Silk Chiffon Beaded Bow Dress UK 12 US 8Located in Cheltenham, GBFull of opulent original details, rendered in the most luxurious fashion, this rare 1920's piece is a beauty to behold. On a base of black silk chiffon and embellished with glass bea...Category
1920s European Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage Late 1950's Black Christian Dior Dress UK 8 US 4By Christian DiorLocated in Cheltenham, GBThis collectible and rare late 1950's Christian Dior dress, rendered in a deep black wool crepe, showcases the iconic silhouette of the era, whilst remaining to this day a classic an...Category
1950s European Cocktail Dresses
- Chanel Resort 2013 DressBy ChanelLocated in Brooklyn, NYBehold this exquisite Chanel pale pink dress, a radiant gem plucked from the illustrious resort 2013 collection, as famously showcased on the elegant runway by none other than the ca...Category
2010s Day Dresses
- Maison Martin Margiela Spring 1999 Trompe-L'œil Semi Couture BodiceBy Maison Martin MargielaLocated in San Diego, CAMaison Martin Margiela dressmaker bodice in Trompe-L'œil printed cotton featured on the spring 1999 runway in look eight adorned with hook-and-eye closures, number, and lettered with...Category
1990s European Tunics and Wrap Dresses