Donald Brooks pieces are extremely well made and his main label pieces border on couture in the way that they are constructed. His main label pieces were all made to order and they are full of hand work and couture worthy details. Brooks launched his main line label in 1963 with a collection for the Spring 1964 season. He quickly became one of the most sought after of the American designers and his clients included Jaqueline Kennedy, Claudette Colbert and Faye Dunaway. The New York Times said that he was one of 'the three B's of fashion' alongside Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene. He helped to launch the American Council of Fashion Designers and won three Cody Awards over the course of his career. He launched a secondary boutique line 1971 but by 1973 both of his self-named labels shuttered. So we have just ten short years of spectacular dresses like this one

This is one of the best dresses Donald Brooks that I have had in the shop. It is absolutely dreamy. This is the type of dress that you will only ever find in vintage. The cost to produce this level of fabric now would be sky-high. The fabric is an intricate combination of velvet chenille cording that has been coiled and hand stitched into place over a metallic black lace base. The cording is ultra-soft and adds a wonderful dimension and texture to the dress. The netted and embroidered lace that it sits on has a metallic finish at its edges and an open weave so that you see little glimpses of the nude lining and skin through it. Over all of that are glossy black sequins that have been hand sewn into place to follow the design. It dips into a V at the front and skims over the bust. The waist is seamed and set just above the bust for a slight empire feel. A silk satin ribbon is attached at the waist and wraps around you. The skirt falls from under there and widens out as it nears the hem. The sleeves are gorgeous. Each sleeve widens out and is very full by the time it reaches the cuff. I love how the ends are finished with a scalloping and how that same scalloped detailing also finishes the neckline and hem. The metallic detailing on the underlying lace that peeks out around all of the edges is just fantastic. This is a work of art. Excellent condition

The bodice is lined in a nude lingerie weight netting and the skirt is lined in an inner nude silk. The sleeves are unlined. The inner skirt closes with a zipper and the the outer skirt snaps over that. The back buttons to close with hand covered silk buttons and loops.

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 37.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3724

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