Bill Blass worked for the Maurice Retner label for 10 years as the chief designer. In 1968 the Bill Blass Inc label became a subsidiary of the Retner label . Then in 1970 he fully bought out his partners at the Maurice Retner label and re-launched it under his own name as Bill Blass Ltd. 1970 was the same year that he won his third Coty American Fashion Critics' Award and with it, his lifetime membership in the Coty Hall of Fame. By 1980 the company was doing 20 million dollars in revenue. He was arguably one of the most famous of all the American designers. By the eighties his work was even more ornate and luxurious than what he had done in the past. Prices for dresses could be as high as $5000 (which would be about $15,000 today). He was once asked why his clothes were so expensive and he replied, 'I'm an avid believer that we have to have clothes made in this country. Therefore we pay more money. ... The cost of labor and fabrication is what makes the clothing expensive.'

I have had versions of this dress in the shop in the past and I love it every time one comes in. It is bold and dramatic and it still feels perfectly on point with so many designers focusing on the eighties right now. Few designers would be able to make this mix of fabrics work. The neck is high and the sleeves are long. There is an inner silk chiffon bodice and then over that is an attached netted lace top. This is then covered in glossy black sequins. The winning through the lace and sequins are little rosettes that are made from a white ribbon that has been woven through the netting and stitched into place in little twirls. Blass used dots in his work quite often and the ribbon work that has been done is a bit of a play on his signature dot pattern. The shoulders are padded and strong and the edge of the bodice is shaped into a curving scalloped pattern. I love how it sits away from the body because it emphasizes the waist more. Quite a clever trick. The waist is accented by a wide black silk satin ribbon that is attached to the inner dress. Under that the skirt falls with a nice bit of fullness to it. Inside it has an inner organza lining that helps to hold the shape but most of the volume comes form the pleating at the waist and the horizontal banding that helps to give the skirt structure. It curves out full over the hips and has a bit of a bell shape. Alternating stripes of black and white silk organza run all the way to the hem and each black stripe has a little band of lace edging it on both the top and bottom of the stripe. Excellent condition with a small note to review below.

The outer bodice is lined in a black silk and that sits over a black silk chiffon inner bodice. The skirt is lined with a white white silk organza. The dress closes at the back with a hand set zipper and the top buttons to close over that. Padded shoulders. I see the the slightest of darkening to some of the ribbon on the top. Too faint to capture in a photo but mentioned for accuracy. There is a minor mark on the skirt and a tiny area of fading near the hem. Please see the photos after the shot of the label

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to bottom seam of band at the waist
Skirt: 36" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3387

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a super easy set to wear and I love the ease it has once on due to the bias cut of the fabric. The silk is a rust and white stripe that is set on a diagonal to follow the bias cut of the silk. It has a little secondary floral pattern woven through it that gives it some added texture. The skirt is a simple pencil silhouette that falls to just below the knee. It does up along one side and I love the white piped finish at the hem. The top slips on and has a wide, straight cut neck. The sleeves come out from the sides with no seaming so have a soft slouchy feel to them. They each narrow in to the cuffs and are finished with that same white piping. It is very chic and easy to wear and the fabric is very light in weight. Great overall condition with a note below.

Both pieces are unlined. The top slips over the head to wear and has snaps along the seam near its hem. The skirt snaps and hooks to close at one side. One pockets on the skirt where it closes. You could move the hooks up or down probably up to an inch either way to adjust the waist.

Top
Sleeves: approx 19"
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hem: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 29" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3510

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This was a key piece from the 2015 Balmain Resort collection and its twin was Look 29 on the runway. The skirt has never been worn and it still has all of its original tags. This collection created a frenzy for the pieces offered and this skirt in particular sold out and was wait listed world wide. It has that curved and fitted cut that Balmain is known for and has the added dimension and texture created by what it is made out of. The black and white stripes that you see are a raffia feeling material that is set in horizontal rows. This gives the skirt an extra dimension and depth that it would not have otherwise. It is cut to sit high up on the waist and is fitted to hug your hips. At the back is the signature Balmain chunky zipper. It has all its original tags still attached and has never been worn. Excellent condition.

Fully lined with their signature black ribbed fabric and closes at the back with the zipper you see. Tagged a modern 40. All original tags attached including an attached StyleBop return tag. Unworn.

Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S913

Reference Photos: (1) Resort 2015 Balmain Collection, Look 29.  /  (2-3) Erica Pesolini, Paris Fashion Week, Fall 2015.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Victor Costa launched his label in 1974 and was known for producing his own versions of what was seen on the Paris runways. He chose good fabrics and his designs were often very close interpretations of other designers work but with his own unique twist when it came to colors, cut and fabrics.

This dress is extremely striking with its graphic red and black striped design that runs over the entire dress. I love how the stripes are set on both horizontal and vertical lines to highlight and emphasize the different parts of the cut of the dress. The mix of the red and black is such a bold and strong choice and the use of satin as his fabric choice just makes it better. It gives the dress the most amazing finish and the fabric has just a touch of weight to it that helps to hold the shape. The bodice is fitted and strapless and cut to curve around the bust. The waist nips in and the hips are emphasized by that wonderful attached peplum just below the waist seam. It also has its original tie belt in a matching fabric that allows you to cinch the waist in further. From there the skirt falls to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem. There is quite a lot of fullness and volume to the skirt created by the addition of an attached tulle underskirt inside and you could add even more fullness. For these shots I have added a light full length crinoline so that you can really get an idea of the skirt. There is room to add an even fuller one if you really wanted to go full on volume. I also shot it without a crinoline for you to see that and you can see that in the final shot in the series of the full length photos included here. It is really an incredible dress and is even better on an actual body. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon and the skirt has an attached layer of tulle to help hold its shape. The bodice is fully lined and lightly boned.  The dress closes with a back zipper. It has its original matching fabric tie belt. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. The crinoline used in the shots is not included.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem with 3" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3458

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.