By Bill Blass
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Oh how Luxe! 1990s custom made ensemble by Bill Blass (when he was alive and designing) for Martha Palm Beach. Worn to an event once! Dress is a strapless emerald velvet bodice with duchess silk satin pencil skirt. The dress has a built in bustier with boning that has a separate zipper. The dress then zips up separately on the satin and velvet. The cover up is a wool (maybe with cashmere blend) vest with large buttons, meant to be worn open, one button closed or even off shoulder Blass style. Size and fabric tag removed, appears to be a modern 6-8. Beautifully made. Dress is entirely lined. Center back slit on dress. Vest: Bust: 37”. Waist: 34” Hip: 36”. Length: 23”. Retailed for over $3500.
Bio: Mr. Bill Blass
William Ralph Blass (June 22, 1922 – June 12, 2002) was an American fashion designer. He was the recipient of many fashion awards, including seven Coty Awards and the Fashion Institute of Technology's Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).
Early life
Blass was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Ralph Aldrich Blass, a traveling hardware salesman, and his wife, Ethyl (Keyser) Blass.
In his autobiography, Blass wrote that the margins in his school books were filled with sketches of Hollywood-inspired fashions instead of notes. At fifteen, he began sewing and selling evening gowns for $25 each to a New York manufacturer. At seventeen he had saved enough money to move to Manhattan and study fashion. At eighteen, he was the first male to win Mademoiselle's Design for Living award. He spent his salary of $30 a week on clothing, shoes and elegant meals.
In 1943, Blass enlisted in the Army. Due to his intelligence and talent, he was assigned to the 603rd Camouflage Battalion, which came to be known as the Ghost Army. Its mission was to deceive the German Army into believing the Allies were positioned in fake locations, for example by using dummy...
Category
1990s American Dress and Coat Ensembles