Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work from this time period. It is beyond gorgeous and it is one of my favorites from him.

I have had the twin of this dress in the shop in the past and it is just as good this time around if not better. I truly love this dress. It is made from a very fine purple silk that has a bright true pink ruffle set down one side. The way that the pink is attached tot he dress gives the appearance that it has been wrapped around the bust and then tied into a dramatic bow at the shoulder with the ties trailing down your side. This is all an illusion as everything is attached and stays perfectly in place. The pink is gathered around the bust and then is caught up to one side to create that fantastic bow. The other shoulder is left completely bare for the perfect balance. The illusion is then made complete with the ties of the bow extending down the side of the dress in an extravagant pink ruffle. This ruffle trails down from the bust right down to the hem and it is fabulous. Wearing this dress is like wearing a piece of art. Inside the bust there is a built in foundation ad a hidden tiny strap lies under the bow so that everything stays perfectly in place. Under that the dress falls in a gradually widening line to the hem. It is extraordinary and amazing and even more beautiful in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep purple silk. The inner bodice closes with its own zipper and then the dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper. Lightly boned through the inner bodice. Note that the waist of the outer is 16" flat across so if you needed more room you could add to the inner bodice to give you another couple of inches to work with. The dress I have on in the photos is the older twin I of this one that I had before to give you an idea of it on. The colours are even better on person.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4109

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work and I love that I can date it based on the very similar one that was used the a Vogue shoot that year. It gives you a better idea of how it will look like once on a body.

The dusty pink mauve coloured sequins that cover that entirely this dress are so densely applied that they actually overlap one another. There are hundreds of thousand of sequins used and it is incredible. Mixed in with those is a band of gold beads that wrap around the hips. This is set around the on one side and widens out over the hip and then narrows to a point where it meets the low set waist seam. Another triangle feeling band sits at the hem of the skirt on the opposite side. This time done in silver sequins. It is cut in that fabulous eighties big volume on top over a fitted skirt. The shoulders are strong and padded for shape. The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are long. The bodice is cut long and it is meant to blouse out over the skirt. Inside there is a silk lining in that same purple and then the sequin fabric is also lined in silk. It buttons down the back and you get a tiny glimpse of skin between the buttons. The sequins catch the light at your slightest move and its fabulous in person. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in silk with a low set inner zipper at the waist and a series of buttons down the back. Padding in the shoulders, It is meant to be oversized at the top so the hips are the most important measurement to consider.

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: open
Seam at top of skirt: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19.5" from top of shoulder to seam at top of skirt
Skirt: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3953

Reference Photo: Models in Bill Blass, Vogue, October 1982.

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work from this time period. It is beyond gorgeous and it is one of my favorites from him.

I have had the twin of this dress in the shop in the past and it is just as good this time around if not better. I truly love this dress. It is made from a very fine purple silk that has a bright true pink ruffle set down one side. The way that the pink is attached tot he dress gives the appearance that it has been wrapped around the bust and then tied into a dramatic bow at the shoulder with the ties trailing down your side. This is all an illusion as everything is attached and stays perfectly in place. The pink is gathered around the bust and then is caught up to one side to create that fantastic bow. The other shoulder is left completely bare for the perfect balance. The illusion is then made complete with the ties of the bow extending down the side of the dress in an extravagant pink ruffle. This ruffle trails down from the bust right down to the hem and it is fabulous. Wearing this dress is like wearing a piece of art. Inside the bust there is a built in foundation ad a hidden tiny strap lies under the bow so that everything stays perfectly in place. Under that the dress falls in a gradually widening line to the hem. It is extraordinary and amazing and even more beautiful in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep purple silk. The inner bodice closes with its own zipper and then the dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper. Lightly boned through the inner bodice. Note that the waist of the outer is 16" flat across so if you needed more room you could add to the inner bodice to give you another couple of inches to work with. The dress I have on in the photos is the older twin I of this one that I had before to give you an idea of it on. The colours are even better on person.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4109

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work and I love that I can date it based on the very similar one that was used the a Vogue shoot that year. It gives you a better idea of how it will look like once on a body.

The dusty pink mauve coloured sequins that cover that entirely this dress are so densely applied that they actually overlap one another. There are hundreds of thousand of sequins used and it is incredible. Mixed in with those is a band of gold beads that wrap around the hips. This is set around the on one side and widens out over the hip and then narrows to a point where it meets the low set waist seam. Another triangle feeling band sits at the hem of the skirt on the opposite side. This time done in silver sequins. It is cut in that fabulous eighties big volume on top over a fitted skirt. The shoulders are strong and padded for shape. The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are long. The bodice is cut long and it is meant to blouse out over the skirt. Inside there is a silk lining in that same purple and then the sequin fabric is also lined in silk. It buttons down the back and you get a tiny glimpse of skin between the buttons. The sequins catch the light at your slightest move and its fabulous in person. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in silk with a low set inner zipper at the waist and a series of buttons down the back. Padding in the shoulders, It is meant to be oversized at the top so the hips are the most important measurement to consider.

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: open
Seam at top of skirt: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19.5" from top of shoulder to seam at top of skirt
Skirt: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3953

Reference Photo: Models in Bill Blass, Vogue, October 1982.

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