halston

Incredible 1973 Halston One Shoulder Couture Brilliant Blue Silk Chiffon Dress

Halston did variations of hos famous one shoulder dresses over the course of several years and they are still among the most collectible of all of his pieces. Nothing says Halston like this classic and when you find one in a silk chiffon and this stunning shade of blue it is a joy to see. Versions of this dress have appeared in several museum exhibits of his work and I have included a photo of a similar one from The Met. These are still one of his best and most impactful designs. This one is from his main label. I have had versions of these in the past and some reside in my own personal collection and this one in its brilliant blue colour is one of the best. It is a very special piece of his work and it is gorgeous. It is not 100% perfect but its beauty outweighs it flaws.

The dress is entirely cut on the bias and utilizes his signature minimal seaming. Halston defined how woman dressed in the 1970s and these one shoulder dresses in particular were tremendously flattering to the body. It is also insanely sexy while still being extremely comfortable to wear. It is feather light and you are barely conscious of wearing anything. The fabric is a fine light silk chiffon that moves and drapes beautifully. The silk has been hand dyed to that brilliant blue color. The camera came close to capturing the colour but in person it is better. The blue is more saturated and the colour has more depth. The blue is one that is flattering on most skin tones and it is a beautiful pop of colour to wear. The inner dress is made of three full layers of bias cut silk and then that top caped layer is attached along the neckline to lie over those. The inner dress is made to drape over the body and the bias cut allows it to move with you as you move. The top layer is cut on a soft curve above the hem on one side and then sweeps upward to cover the shoulder and cascade down all the way to the hem. The bias cut and that caped effect on the one side give it tremendous movement as you move. It is spectacular. This is a rare example of Halston at his very best. Presents as excellent condition and is 100% sound but please review the full condition notes below

Constructed in multiple bias cut layers as described above. It slips on with no closures. Hand finished and the bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. There is fading down the top of the caped side and some marks near the neckline and on that side of the cape. If you wore it the other way around you would not see most of these. Once on these fade more into the fabric that is there. There is one mark on the inner dress under the overlay as well. Please see the photos after the label shot. Priced with this in mind.

Bust: 15-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD4116

Reference Photos:  Silk chiffon dress worn by Lily Auchincloss at the French-American fashion show, Palace of Versailles, 1973. Now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (First image from the book “Halston”.)

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.