• The Richilene label was launched around 1970 and lasted to about 1990 or so.
• It was a New York based label and was designed by Ilene Pacun and her husband Richard. The name came by combining their two first names which I only found out recently, and I thought was a cute little detail. They focused on party dresses for the most part and had a pretty wide range of options price wise.
• By the mid-1980s their prices ranged from about $200-$2000 and the higher and pieces were very well made.
• I can't help but think that this is a more attainable version of the famous 1986 Chanel with its removable sleeves.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful deep blue netting that has little dots worked through the tulle. The choice of this particular fabric gives it the structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight once on the body.
• The bodice is strapless and there is inner boning for support. The boning continues down the sides on either side to help hold the dress in place. The waist curves in a bit and then the skirt is set in just at the top of the hip. I love how this gives the illusion of extra length through the body.
• The entire bodice has been heavily detailed with iridescent deep blue sequins that are set in a curving swirling pattern. They have been densely applied so that they overlap each other. This allows them to catch the light in different ways to create a really pretty effect.
• Onto this are embroidered and beaded flowers that have petals set up and off the dress for a slight 3-D effect. These go all the way around the upper bodice.
• The skirt is very long and full. It flows to the floor in a cascade of that beautiful dotted netting and there are five layers making up the skirt. The top two layers are the blue netting and then there is a organza layer under that that has a shimmering finish to it. Under that is a black layer of stiffen netting and then there is a final blue layer inside and under that.
• The very top layer has an edging of stiffened netting all the way around it, and that helps hold the shape and give it a pretty finish. All of the volume you see in these photos are from the skirt and all of these built in under skirts.
• The final perfect touch are the incredible removable half sleeves that you just slip on to wear. They have stiffened tulle inside which helps to give them that puff. An elastic sits at each end of each sleeve for an easy fit. I have pushed them up on the arms of the dress form so they are very full but you could also wear them a little more stretched out if you wished.
• The dress has a bit of a fantasy princess feel that I love.
• The bodice is lined in a deep blue muslin and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper. The sleeves have a stiffened tulle interior and elastic on each end so they just slip onto the arm. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: each sleeve is up to 14" long and can be worn to be up to half that size in length. The elastic at each end stretches up to approximately 20"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist:12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at bottom of bodice: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 24"flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12.5" from top of the bodice to the seam at the bottom of the bodice
Total length: 53" from top of the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5586

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