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 and it feels even more luxurious in person. 

This coat is a marvel. It made me gasp when I saw it. It is very well made and the fabric is extraordinary. I doubt you will see another like it again. It is made out of a flat pile velvet that has a added texture over it so that parts of the velvet catch the light differently. It was then printed with a swirling design done on a deep copper, a dusty blue and golden feeling taupes. Then on top of that parts of the pattern have been hand painted with a gold paint that you can feel as you run your hands over its surface. I love it. In very bight light the entire colour of the coat seems to shift and change from what you see her to be more of an overall blue. It is just incredible. The velvet is then mixed with a quilted  silk stain in an olive colour. He used this fabric for the wide full cuffs and for the soft rounded collar. The same quilted silk is used to highlight the flap pockets that are placed on each hip and it is lined in an un-quilted version of this same silk. The quilted detailing that piece has gives it a play on gender as it feels like a men's smoking jacket. The coat wraps over to the side and closes with three huge and elaborate frog knots made of a thick gold cording. A thinner metallic gold cord highlights the front edges and the cuffs. The shoulders are shaped but soft and the sleeves are long. It is cut to be more fitted through the body and then falls in a long expanse of the velvet to widen out as it nears the hem much like a classic great coat in feel. An interesting thing about this one, because it wraps over itself and closes at the side you could wear it on its own as a dress. It is always wonderful to find piece that can play double duty. It looks to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a the same green silk satin that  detailed the coat but the lining is not quilted. It closes at the side with the frog knots. The pockets are functional and have a hidden snap along their inside edges to help support their weight. Hand finished throughout. Light padding in each shoulder. It appears to have been worn very little if at all

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3905

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 and it feels even more luxurious in person. 

This coat is a marvel. It made me gasp when I saw it. It is very well made and the fabric is extraordinary. I doubt you will see another like it again. It is made out of a flat pile velvet that has a added texture over it so that parts of the velvet catch the light differently. It was then printed with a swirling design done on a deep copper, a dusty blue and golden feeling taupes. Then on top of that parts of the pattern have been hand painted with a gold paint that you can feel as you run your hands over its surface. I love it. In very bight light the entire colour of the coat seems to shift and change from what you see her to be more of an overall blue. It is just incredible. The velvet is then mixed with a quilted  silk stain in an olive colour. He used this fabric for the wide full cuffs and for the soft rounded collar. The same quilted silk is used to highlight the flap pockets that are placed on each hip and it is lined in an un-quilted version of this same silk. The quilted detailing that piece has gives it a play on gender as it feels like a men's smoking jacket. The coat wraps over to the side and closes with three huge and elaborate frog knots made of a thick gold cording. A thinner metallic gold cord highlights the front edges and the cuffs. The shoulders are shaped but soft and the sleeves are long. It is cut to be more fitted through the body and then falls in a long expanse of the velvet to widen out as it nears the hem much like a classic great coat in feel. An interesting thing about this one, because it wraps over itself and closes at the side you could wear it on its own as a dress. It is always wonderful to find piece that can play double duty. It looks to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a the same green silk satin that  detailed the coat but the lining is not quilted. It closes at the side with the frog knots. The pockets are functional and have a hidden snap along their inside edges to help support their weight. Hand finished throughout. Light padding in each shoulder. It appears to have been worn very little if at all

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3905

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