1980 Bill Blass Black & White Sequin Button Jacket & Silk Print Wide Leg Pant
View Similar Items
1980 Bill Blass Black & White Sequin Button Jacket & Silk Print Wide Leg Pant
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 4 (US)
- Style:Whimsical (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Gresham, OR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5010272912
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.
- 1950 Galanos Olive & Mustard Color Fine Wool Boucle Dress & Cape EnsembleBy James Galanos for Amelia Gray, James GalanosLocated in Gresham, ORAn exquisite 1950s James Galanos olive green and mustard plaid fine wool boucle woven dress and cape ensemble: Dress is long-sleeved and cut on the bias with a gathered boatneck nec...Category
1950s American Dress and Coat Ensembles
- 1940s Creed of London Finely Tailored Couture Royal Blue Skirt Suit w/ CapletLocated in Gresham, ORA beautifully tailored 1940s Creed of London couture 3-piece royal blue wool skirt suit with caplet. Silk crepe lined and fabulous inscribed buttons. Caplet has a velvet Chesterfield...Category
1940s English Skirt Suits
- 1960 Vivid Purple Velvet Jumpsuit w/ Gold & Silver Mod Metal Stud EmbellishmentsLocated in Gresham, ORA 1960s Futura Couture vivid purple rayon velvet jumpsuit with gold and silver toned half sphere stud embellishments at neckline and cuffs. Wide flared ...Category
1960s American Jumpsuits
- 1980 Gianni Versace Mixed Tweed Skirt Suit w/ Structured Shoulder SilhouetteBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Gresham, OR1980s Gianni Versace mixed wool tweed skirt suit with softly structured padded shoulder silhouette. Subtle touches of olive, burgundy and teal. P...Category
1980s Italian Skirt Suits
- 1980 Black Knit Jumpsuit w/ Structured Rhinestone Embellished Shoulder ArrowsLocated in Gresham, ORA fabulous 1980s black rayon knit jumpsuit with stovepipe legs padded structured shoulders that are heavily embellished with rhinestone arrows traveling over shoulder yolk and down u...Category
1980s American Jumpsuits
- Lilli Ann 40s Silk Skirt Suit w/ Micro-Pleated Sleeves!By Lilli AnnLocated in Gresham, ORA fantastic early Lilli Ann 40s suit in a gorgeous holiday green silk, with extravagantly micro-pleated and cuffed sleeves, rhinestone embellished bow closure...Category
1940s American Skirt Suits
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld checked taupe bouclé wool dress and jacket set, fw 1995By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel taupe and pink checked bouclé wool dress and jacket set ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Mid-length sheath dress with short-sleeves and v-neck ▪ Back vent with gold 'CC' butt...Category
1990s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Gucci by Tom Ford black suede and fur jacket and maxi skirt set, fw 1996By Gucci, Tom Ford for GucciLocated in London, GB▪ Gucci black suede and fur jacket and skirt set ▪ Designed by Tom Ford ▪ Single-breasted jacket with fur lining ▪ Two front flap pockets ▪ High-waisted maxi wrap skirt ▪ IT 40 -...Category
1990s Italian Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Vintage Chloe Karl Lagerfeld Navy Crepe Jacket Culottes/ Gaucho Pant SetBy ChloéLocated in Boca Raton, FLDone in wool crepe fabric, unlined. The jacket closes with pewter mirror buttons. Pockets on jacket and pants. Size: 38 FR / 6 US Size estimate: S/M Measurements jacket: shoulders...Category
Late 20th Century French Trouser Pant Suits
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld black quilted nylon jumpsuit, fw 2011By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel jumpsuit ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Black quilted nylon ▪ Attached cropped jacket ▪ Zip fastenings ▪ FR 36 - UK 8 - US 4 ▪ Fall-Winter 2011 ▪ 98% Polyamide, 2% Poly...Category
2010s Italian Jumpsuits
- Vivienne Westwood metallic sea green denim jacket and pants set, ss 1993By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GB▪ Vivienne Westwood metallic sea green denim jacket and pants set ▪ Inverted seams ▪ Gold orb etched buttons ▪ Red contrast stitch ▪ High...Category
1990s British Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
- Dolce & Gabbana brown corduroy multipocket jacket and mini skirt set, fw 2002By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana brown corduroy jacket and skirt ▪ Multipocket corduroy bomber jacket ▪ Fur lining ▪ Pleated silk georgette skater skirt ▪ EU 38 ▪ Jacket: 50% Rabbit, 48% Cotton,...Category
Early 2000s Italian Jackets