1960s Sequin & Metallic Lurex Bill Blass Dress Set
View Similar Items
1960s Sequin & Metallic Lurex Bill Blass Dress Set
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Rockwood, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: Item# DD22631stDibs: LU128803582
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.
- Azzedine Alaia Magenta Acetate Knit Cocktail Dress, ss 1986By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GB▪ Archival Azzedine Alaia Cocktail Dress ▪ Spring-Summer 1986 ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Constructed from magenta acetate knit fabric ▪ Body conscious fit ▪ Semi-sheer knee-...Category
1980s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 2000s Diane Freis Hand Beaded Ombre Evening DressBy Diane FreisLocated in Hong Kong, HKStep back in time with this stunning vintage 2000s Diane Freis dress. Crafted from luxurious yellow and blue silk, this dress exudes elegance and sophistication. The ombre effect add...Category
Early 2000s Chinese Evening Dresses
- Jean-Louis Scherrer Couture beaded crêpe de chine evening ensemble, S/S 1999By Jean-Louis ScherrerLocated in London, GB- Haute Couture - Full length kimono - Full length skirt with draped, irregular waistline - Organza bodice covered in wood, cork, rhinestone beads and pearlised sequins - Designed by Stephane...Category
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- ETRO Size 6 Black Multi-Color Viscose Abstract floral Sleeveless DressBy EtroLocated in San Francisco, CAETRO dress comes in a black multi-color abstract floral viscose featuring a ruched design, sleeveless, front slit, and a back zip up closure. Made in Italy. New With Tags. Marked: ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Day Dresses
- ROSETTA GETTY Size S Red Viscose Column Long GownBy Rosetta GettyLocated in San Francisco, CAROSETTA GETTY dress comes in a red viscose woven material featuring a spaghetti strap style, a-line, open back, and a back zip up closure. Made in USA. New with Tags. Marked: Smal...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Ball Gowns
- Worlds End orange cotton jersey toga dress with Henri Matisse print, A / W 1982By Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLarenLocated in London, GB- Designed by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren - Henri Matisse - Femmes et Singes (1954) printed in brown 'Buffalo / Nostalgia of Mud' Autumn-W...Category
1980s British Evening Dresses and Gowns