80s Pleated Mary McFadden Silk Cocktail Dress
View Similar Items
80s Pleated Mary McFadden Silk Cocktail Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Length: 38.59 in (98 cm)Bust: 29.93 in (76 cm)Waist: 23.63 in (60 cm)Hip: 27.56 in (70 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. This item is in overall very good vintage condition, therefore please note the dress does show minor signs of wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Copenhagen, DK
- Reference Number:Seller: 2161stDibs: LU13323434743
Mary McFadden
Less could have been expected from a well-bred society girl like Mary McFadden, who stepped out of the safe confines of the haut monde to create iconic designs for evening dresses, jackets, skirts and other items inspired by ancient and ethnic cultures and traditions. Fashion, in fact, was not initially on her agenda.
“I fell into it backwards,” she told the New York Times in 1979.
Born in New York but raised on a cotton plantation in Memphis, Tennessee, McFadden spent a few months at the Traphagen School of Fashion in 1956 and moved on to study sociology and anthropology at Columbia University. Afterward, she spent a short period of time in public relations at Christian Dior during the early 1960s, but she was unsure exactly what would lie ahead for her. McFadden decided to relocate to South Africa with her first husband, who oversaw production of the De Beers mines. While there, she began to design her own clothing — tunics that featured African prints, made of silk she’d found in Madagascar — because she couldn’t find anything that suited her.
In 1970, following two divorces, McFadden returned to her native New York City and was offered a job as an editor at Vogue magazine. Her colleagues admired the sophisticated garments she made in South Africa and had been wearing to work, and the magazine staffers pleaded to feature her designs, which meant she’d need to go into business in order to make them available to readers. So, in 1973, McFadden took the jump, soon becoming known for refreshing kimono-shaped jackets and richly colored pleated dresses that evoke the freedom of a Greek chiton — a far cry from the dull routine office attire for working women at the time. A collection of jewelry followed, and in 1977, McFadden patented her “marii” fabric, a pleated synthetic charmeuse that fell “like liquid gold on the body, like Chinese silk.”
In 1976, McFadden won her first Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, and a few years later, she entered the Coty Award Hall of Fame. While her business shuttered in the early 2000s, the beloved designer’s timeless styles endure.
Shop vintage Mary McFadden day dresses, accessories and jewelry on 1stDibs today.
- Vintage Early 1940's Crimson Red Satin Evening Dress UK 10-12 US 6-8Located in Cheltenham, GBThis breathtaking early 1940's crimson satin dress, rendered in a full circle cut and tailored to perfection, is the perfect piece for that special occasion. The V shaped neckline...Category
1940s Evening Dresses
- Valentino red evening dress with embellished lace sleeves, fw 2005By ValentinoLocated in Milano, IT- Runway Look 84 - Sold by Skof.Archive - Red evening dress - Sequined sleeves - Hidden side zipper - Inner bustier with side zipper - Fall Winter 2005 Size : FR 40 - EN 44 - U...Category
Early 2000s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses
$2,198 Sale Price20% Off - Documented 2005 A-POC by Issey Miyake & Dai Fujiwara 2-Piece Orange Dress SetBy Issey MiyakeLocated in Scottsdale, AZFabulous 2005 A-POC BY ISSEY MIYAKE AND DAI FUJIWARA in a brilliant orange. 2 pieces of fabric layered over one and other. Miyake “A-POC” is an acronym for “A Piece of Cloth” and ref...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Cocktail Dresses
- 1980's William Travilla Crushed Velvet DressBy TravillaLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis is an absolutely stunning vintage dress from William Travilla from the 1980's! This incredible Boudreaux velvet dress has a deep v neckline, with...Category
1980s American Evening Gowns
- Azzedine Alaia red open knit fishtail evening dress, ss 1996By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBPresenting an alluring Azzedine Alaia red ribbed knit evening dress, a true masterpiece from the spring-summer 1996 collection. This dress showcases the designer's unparalleled craft...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Gianni Versace red silk jersey pleated full length evening dress, 1990sBy Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace red silk jersey pleated full length evening dress with internal bodysuit and pleated bodice at the back circa 1990sCategory
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns