Bill Blass Red Sequin Snakeskin Print Halter Dress, 1974
View Similar Items
Bill Blass Red Sequin Snakeskin Print Halter Dress, 1974
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Bust: 16 in (40.64 cm)Waist: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)Hip: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 58.5 in (148.59 cm)
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Expand description for full measurements.
- Seller Location:Rockwood, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: Item# DD30411stDibs: LU1284916263
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.
- Vintage Red Crepe Column Dress with Cut Out BackLocated in London, GBA great red crepe gown, with an attractive cut out design at the back. The dress has a 24 1/2'' slit at the back , is fully lined and has a low round neckline.Category
1980s Unknown Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage 1920's Gallenga Couture Metallic Stenciled Red Velvet Angel-Sleeve GownBy Maria Monaci GallengaLocated in Beverly Hills, CABreathtaking Maria Monaci Gallenga Couture trained gown dating back to the mid-1920's. The textile art of Gallenga is often compared to that of Mariano Fortuny because they both prod...Category
1920s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Wonderful Carmen Marc Valvo Early 90s Hot Pink Fuchsia Beaded Vintage Silk DressBy Carmen Marc ValvoLocated in San Diego, CAWonderful in every aspect! Early 1990s CARMEN MARC VALVO hot pink silk dress! Encrusted with thousands of glass beads in red, green, silver, and pink, that form a tropical floral pri...Category
1990s Cocktail Dresses
$476 Sale Price20% Off - 1990s Large Plus Size Burnt Orange Linen Dolman Sleeve Vintage 90s Tunic DressLocated in San Diego, CAChic early 90s large / plus size burnt orange Linen tunic dress ! Simply slips over the head. Mock hammered gold button at center neck. Dolman sleeves can accomodate an array of bust...Category
1990s American Informal Dresses
- 1970S GIORGIO SANT'angelo Pink & Purple Wool Jersey Ombré Dyed Halter Top SkirtBy Giorgio di Sant' AngeloLocated in New York, NY1970S GIORGIO SANT'angelo Pink & Purple Wool Jersey Ombré Dyed Halter Top Skirt Gown Ensemble With Gold Lurex TrimCategory
1970s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
- LeSwim Red and Black Lips Print Halter Midi Dress Size SmallLocated in Paradise Island, BSFounded by Adriana Caras, LeSwim is a modern vision of luxury resort style, offering elevated swimwear and resort wear that travels beyond the beach. The clothing is made in the US, ...Category
2010s American Day Dresses
$297 Sale Price40% Off