c.1958-1965 Helen Rose Hand Beaded Ivory Silk Chiffon & Gold Dress
Helen Rose signed with MGM in 1944 and designed costumes for various films up until 1966. She won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and was nominated on 8 other occasions. She was the designer behind both Grace Kelly & Elizabeth Taylor's wedding dresses and dresses both in real life and on film as well. In 1958 she launched her own label and this dress is from that line.
The dress is stunning and in person is far more magical then how the camera captured the tones and colors. The ivory over the nude inner layers of silk are softer and have more flow and the beading is more a muted gold and the overall feel is softer. The dress has a high bodice that has small capped sleeves and this is entirely hand beaded with a combination of gold beads interspersed with tiny rhinestones, seed pearls and crystals. The parts of the design that have the clear faceted beads gives it a 3D effect. It has a soft scoop at the front neck and the back dips into a V. Just under the high set bust the skirt flows out and flares to the ground in a cascade of silk layers. The top layer is a beautiful ivory color. This lies over a floating inner layer of silk chiffon in a nude and a more opaque, nude silk crepe lining. There are yards of silk in the two outer layers of the dress and this gives it beautiful movement. It is all hand finished and really a beautiful example of her work. This would make a beautiful wedding dress for a non-traditional bride or work for any special occasion. Excellent condition with a couple of tiny notes below to review.
It was a touch small on my dress form so on a proper sized girl the bust will sit a touch lower. Fully lined in a combination of a silk crepe and silk chiffon. The skirt has a layer of silk chiffon between the outer and inner layer. It closes with a back painted metal zipper and hook& eye above that. All hand finished and beautifully constructed. Perhaps the occasional missing bead but nothing that detracts or leaves a jarring bare spot. Some faint grubbiness to the hem and I see one tiny repair near the hem. There is so much fabric the impact of this is zero once on.
Shoulders: approx 14" but no true defined seam
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Underbust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of shoulder to underbust/empire waist
Skirt: 47" from underbust/empire waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3026
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.
