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1984 Ray Aghayan for Barbra Streisand Custom Klimt Beaded Gold Lame Dress

About the Item

TheRealList presents: a gold beaded Ray Aghayan dress custom-made for Barbra Streisand. This fabulous dress is the perfect culmination of the fashion, art, and pop culture worlds. Ray Aghayan was an American costume designer and life partner to Bob Mackie, who started his career as Aghayan's assistant. Though his fame was eventually eclipsed by his partner, Aghayan was once the go-to costume designer for A-listers including Judy Garland, Cher, Diana Ross, and many many more. In 1984, Barbra Streisand commissioned him to create a gown based on Gustav Klimt's 1907 painting 'Painting of Adele Bloch-Bauer I' (The Woman in Gold). Tasked with bringing one of the world's most famous paintings to life, Agahayan is quoted saying, "it's not just a dress - it's a piece of art". This empire-style gown is made of layered gold lamé and embroidered with five shades of gold beads, pale transparent sequins in peach, lavender, and green, and also features faceted stones for an overall Egyptian-inspired pattern. The dress features a square neckline, exposed shoulders, and cap sleeves. The gown is covered in thousands of hand-sewn beads and sequins which are fashioned to create a similar pattern to the dress in the Klimt painting. The bodice and sleeves feature a beaded box pattern while a triangle motif covers the rest of the dress. The 'Eye of Providence' symbol, representing God watching over humanity, is scattered throughout the design, just as it appears in the painting. The body of the dress is made up of four panels with a gold lame layer underneath. The back panel is kept intentionally longer than the others to create a sweeping train. Streisand wore this gown to accept the Scopus Laureate Award on December 3, 1984. It does not get much better than this glamourous gilded Klimt-inspired dress custom-made for Babs and created by an unsung icon of American design, Ray Aghayan. A documented and historic masterpiece, this gown represents an anthology of fashion and is the perfect piece for any museum, red carpet, or collection. Available only at TheRealList! Follow us on Instagram! @_the_reallist_ Additional Measurements: Shoulder to Hem (front): 58" Shoulder to Hem of Train (back): 68" Empire Arm width: 4.25"
  • Designer:
    Ray Aghayan
  • Brand:
    Ray Aghayan
  • Dimensions:
    Bust: 30 in (76.2 cm)Hip: 38 in (96.52 cm)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Very light wear from age and use. One interior dress shield missing, not visible when worn. A few embellishments missing, not noticeable when worn.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2388215378202

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    Ships From: Philadelphia, PA
  • Return Policy

    A return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.

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About the Seller
5.0
Located in Philadelphia, PA
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Established in 2020
1stDibs seller since 2021
314 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
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