Oscar de la Renta for Elizabeth Arden, circa 1965
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Oscar de la Renta for Elizabeth Arden, circa 1965
About the Item
Couture quality, the dress was a custom order for a member of the Best Dressed List. Oscar de la Renta was the House Designer at Elizabeth Arden at this time and he certainly did a beautiful job with the design of this dress and matching shawl. The color is just amazing, somewhere between raspberry and cyclamen pink silk gazar, this dress is a real attention getter.
Strapless, with an Empire waistline, the bodice is fully boned and lined in pink silk. There is a flat bow at the center front above the full skirt. What a great skirt it is, lush and full, shorter in front and dipping longer in back for a very glamorous look. The hemline is a very generous gathered flounce. Underneath there is a straight silk skirt, a full tulle petticoat, and a silk petticoat with a ruffle stiffened with horsehair. The workmanship is just exquisite.
The bodice has an interior hook and eye closing above an interior zipper, as well as a zipper at the center back of the dress. The shawl is a generous triangle of matching silk gazar with a deep ruffle on two sides.
Both pieces are in pristine condition. The dress bears the Elizabeth Arden label, and the custom order label dated March 22, 1965. Provenance is available to the purchaser of this gorgeous dress.
Measurements;
Bust 34"
Empire Waist 24"
Hips Full
Length at center front 40"
Length at center back 50"
Shawl 82" X 26"
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 2-4 (NA)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:Silk Gazar
- Condition:Excellent.
- Seller Location:New Hope, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: CD18-0411stDibs: U0906204733
Oscar De La Renta
The name Oscar de la Renta is synonymous with enduring originality in fashion, and his work deeply influenced other designers throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Vintage Oscar de la Renta evening dresses and gowns — which often feature ruffles, dazzling prints, vibrant colors and dramatic silhouettes — exude elegant sophistication and femininity, while his exquisite scarves and shoes rounded out his sought-after collections.
De la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic in 1932. He was the youngest of seven children, the rest of whom were girls. At the age of 18, he left home for Madrid and studied painting at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts. A natural talent for illustration earned him an apprenticeship with the legendary Spanish fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga.
In 1961, de la Renta visited Paris, where he was hired as a couture assistant at Lanvin. Less than two years later, he moved to New York City. He designed a ready-to-wear collection for Elizabeth Arden and partnered with Jane Derby. He also began designing dresses for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. When Derby died in 1965, the label was named after de la Renta (he took full control in the 1970s). Shortly after, he married an editor-in-chief of French Vogue, Françoise de Langlade, whose own career in fashion began at Elsa Schiaparelli’s fashion house.
De la Renta served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1973–76, and again from 1986–88. In 1981, the tradition of de la Renta dressing First Ladies continued. He quickly became one of Nancy Reagan’s favorite designers (as well as her lifelong friend).
De la Renta expanded his clothing lines throughout the 1990s but kept true to his feminine, polished style. He also continued to design for the First Ladies of the United States, and his pieces were worn by both Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. At Balmain, de la Renta was the first Dominican to design for a French couture house.
Over the course of his career, de la Renta earned the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Coty Award and the Fragrance Foundation’s Perennial Success Award. He passed away in 2014.
In 2015, the Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Fashion + Film showcased more than 80 of de la Renta's gowns at its inaugural exhibit.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Oscar de la Renta suits, blouses, accessories and handbags.
