1960s Mollie Parnis Black Lace and Large Rhinestone Ensemble

View Similar Items

Chanel Black Wool Mini Dresss

Adolfo Tropical Silk Jersey Strapless Dress with Half Capelet

Bill Blass Black Babydoll Dress Size 8

Zimmermann Brown Silk Maxi Dress, Size 3

Chanel Black Tweed and Metallic Sleeveless Midi Dress Size 40

Antik Batik Green Wool Sequins Boho Chic Tunic Dress

Pelush Black Faux Fur Astrakhan Dress With Three Dimensional Flowers - Small

Pelush Black Boucle Faux Fur Dress With Guipure Lace and Swarovski Crystals - S

Pelush Black Faux Fur Dress With Three Dimensional Flowers And Embroidery - Sl

Gucci S/S 2010 low-back metal hardware cut-out dress

Prada F/W 1997 graphic beaded sheer green dress

Gianfranco Ferré S/S 2004 Plunging Laser Cut Silk Dress

1 of 5

1960s Mollie Parnis Black Lace and Large Rhinestone Ensemble

About the Item

Made of gorgeous black lace and embellished with large rhinestones. The dress sparkles like diamonds. We call it refined bling. Spaghetti strap under-slip with skirt bottom is worn underneath the lace top creating dimension. Bell sleeves are weighted by rhinestones at the ends for swing and drape. This ensemble is dynamic! Modern Size 8 *All garments and accessories have been professionally cleaned and thoroughly checked before shipping. They are ready to enjoy upon arrival! Mollie Parnis was born Sarah Rosen Parnis to Jewish Austrian parents who had immigrated to the United States at the turn of the century. Parnis discovered her eye for design when working for a blouse manufacturer while studying law at Hunter College, but she often credited her discovery of fashion to a single incident: in high school, Parnis was invited to a party after attending a football game. Times were tough, and Parnis, having already worn her sole dress to the rally, raced home to redesign the dress on her back. After cutting the neckline, adding lace, and stitching on an artificial flower, Parnis was ready to attend the party, wearing her first-ever creation.  In 1933, Parnis and her husband, Leon Livingston, opened “Parnis Livingston Inc.,” a women’s boutique on New York’s Seventh Avenue that sold suits and blouses. After some success with her business, in the 1940s, Parnis began designing under only her name. Her voluminous shirtwaist dresses and straight-skirted suits with cropped jackets became her signature look. Parnis’ works were characterized by their luxurious fabrics, elegant nipped-waist silhouettes, refined patterns, and excellent craftsmanship.  After the death of her husband in 1962, Parnis took a three month break from the business, and returned with new, fresh ideas that were better suited to the increasingly casual face of American fashion. Mollie Parnis teamed up with designer Morty Sussman, and together the two of them produced “Mollie Parnis Boutique Collection,” and “Mollie Parnis Studio,” two secondary lines that appealed to the modern American woman with increased buying power, who had entered the work force, and who had a varied social calendar, as well as a busy home life. In 1985, one year after closing down her business, Parnis, who was unable to fully leave the design world, developed “Mollie Parnis at Home,” a collection for Chevette Lingerie.   Throughout Parnis’ long career, she constantly reinvented herself without jeopardizing the quality of her works. Parnis understood that fashion was a reflection of the times, an embodiment of the zeitgeist; her designs were meant to exist and add to the current social climate, and in doing so, were an phenomenal success.

Designer:
Mollie Parnis
Brand:
Mollie Parnis
Dimensions:
Length: 42 in (106.68 cm)Bust: 37 in (93.98 cm)Waist: 36 in (91.44 cm)Hip: 39 in (99.06 cm)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Material Notes:
Well Preserved
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Well Preserved. Like new.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU10321152472