bill blass

Beautiful Fall 1979 Bill Blass Couture Runway Silk Chiffon Dress w Gold Thread, Sequins & Mink Cuffs

  • The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1979 Bill Blass collection.
  • It was made under the creative direction of Bill Blass.
  • I have had the twin of this dress in the shop a few years ago and I was very pleased to find another.
  • A similar version of this dress was worn by Slim Keith to attend the Met Museum Gala that year. We have also included a couple of shots of me in the one we had previously to give you an idea of how it is on.
  • If you prefer not to wear fur you could easily remove the cuffs and replace them with a faux version, feathers or anything you could imagine, or leave them without and just store the cuffs for archival purposes.
  • This dress is one of the best that he ever made and it is a wonderful example of just how sophisticated and glamorous he could be in his work.
  • The silk chiffon is feather light and I love the fine metallic gold thread that is woven through the silk to create vertical stripes. 
  • Onto those tiny stripes of the skirt are hand applied gold sequins that catch the light beautifully to add extra texture and glamour to the dress. Worked into the silk chiffon itself is a subtle leaf print that also adds a beautiful visual texture. 
  • The bodice skims over you and crosses over itself with a built in brown silk camisole that acts as the lining. 
  • The shoulders are soft and the sleeves extend directly out from the bodice and narrow slightly as they reach the cuff. The cuffs are both finished with a seven inch band of mink. 
  • The upper part of the skirt is the same deep red as the bodice of the dress and then that leaf print gradually becomes more dense until it becomes more of a soft brown around the lower hem. A slit runs up the front for a little leg to show. 
  • The dress is fully lined in brown silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set back zipper. Hand finishes throughout and hand set sequins. The cuffs are soft and they have perhaps the very slightest of wear to the edges. This one does not have its Bill Blass tag present, but has the appropriate size tag and a Saks Fifth Avenue tag inside. 
  • Tagged a vintage Bill Blass 6
  • Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 27" 
Shoulders: no defined seam
Inner bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from the top of the shoulder to waist
Total length: 57.5" from the top of the shoulder to hem and the front slit is 19" from the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5762

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1979 Bill Blass.  /  (2-3) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.  /  (4) Socialite Slim Keith in Bill Blass (left) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, 1979.

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

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SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.

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