• This dress dates to the late 1970s, maybe early 1980s.
• It was made under the creative direction of Richard Blackwell.
• The Mr Blackwell label was launched by Richard Blackwell in the late 1950s and even at that time his dresses sold for between $800 and $1000 which in modern dollars converts to up to $10,000 a dress. He dressed many of the big stars of the day including Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour and Jayne Mansfield.
• His custom label was pieces that were made-to-order and were one-of-a-kind pieces that were fitted to a specific client in the couture tradition.
• During the 1960s he became the first in history to present a collection during a television broadcast and he is also the first to be attributed  making for his line available for plus-size women. This is a beautiful example of his work during this point of his label.
• The dress is made out of a very pretty brightly printed black jersey that holds the shape and volume very well.
• The dress has a fairly simple silhouette. The inner dress is meant to skim over the body all the way to the floor, and then there is an attached piece around the neck line that falls over the upper shoulders.
• The front is set a bit wider across the neck and then the back scoops down into a V to add an unexpected flash of bare skin
• A little extra shape is added by the matching tie belt that is made out of the same fabric. I have topped it into a bow that sits just under the edge of the cape for these photos. You could easily wear the dress without it or change it for a wider more substantial belt.
• The there are no sleeves on the inner dress. Instead, the single layer of matching jersey is attached around the edge of the neckline. It is just under 15" in width at its widest point and it drapes over your shoulders and down the top of the arm. This continues all the way around front to back to give you that lovely cape effect that you see.
• Under the cape, the dress is meant to skim over your bust, waist and hips. Once past the hips it widens out slightly to the floor.
• The perfect finishing detail is the addition of hand set sequins that sit over the print of the cape portion of the dress. On the lighter colours they are a clear sequin with an iridescent finish, and on other colours they chose sequins to match the colour underneath. This lets the dress have a subtle glimmer in the light.
• The dress is fully lined in a black stretch jersey and it closes at the back with a zipper. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Cape: is just under 15" it's widest point
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to the hem with approximately 3.5" turned under the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5700

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