Teal Traina once pointed to the entrance of his Seventh Avenue showroom and said: “It should say ‘school’ over the door.” That is because Teal, who inherited the label from his uncle Anthony Traina, hired many young designers who were just starting their careers. Geoffrey Beene, Dominic Rompallo, Chester Weinberg, Rodriguez and Kay Unger all worked for the label at some point. His uncle was also the financial backer for the Norman Norell label so you will often see a collaborative label between the two companies from the original partnership that started in 1941. Traina Inc launched in 1959 after the Traina-Norell partnership closed. At this point Geoffey Beene joined the company and remained there as the designer until 1963 when he left to start his own label. He said of his time there; “Traina was one of my original boosters. He left me alone and made it possible for me to do my own things. He had a great sense of humour. I shall forever be humbled to him.” This dress would have been made during the Beene years so has a double dose of fashion history as it is a fabulous example of the Traina label and a very early example of Beene's work as a young designer.

The dress is beyond gorgeous. It is made out of a heavy silk satin and this fabric choice allows it to maintain its wonderfully crisp lines while still feeling soft and romantic. There is that banded bodice that Beene would go on to do variations of throughout his career. The bodice is high set in an empire cut and is a simple wide band of a deep olive silk that wraps all the way around you. Above that a soft pale turquoise silk curves over the shoulders and is set on an angle in towards the banding on both the front and back. Sleeves extend down in a slim long line in the same pale turquoise silk. The skirt comes out from underneath the banding at the bodice and falls to the floor, widening out as it nears the hem. The skirt is a soft lavender colour. The unusual mix of colours that he has chosen is part of what gives the dress its beauty and the silk is heavy enough to help keep the shape you see. At the back the banding lies over the zip closure and then closes with two thick metal buttons that are covered in rhinestones. It is very beautiful and even though it is not 100% perfect it is sound and wearable and a fantastic dress that I personally would wear as is in a heartbeat. Overall great condition with notes below to review.

The bodice is lined in the same turquoise silk used on the exterior. The skirt is lined in a white silk mix muslin. It closes at the back with a metal zipper and then the banding buttons to close over that. Some stones are missing out of the buttons and there is a line of fading down each side of the skirt. Some grubbiness along the hem line. Sound and wearable. Extremely well made

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 47.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3596

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

25% OFF TAKEN AUTOMATICALLY AT CHECK OUT!

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later and in 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy.

This is an incredible set by Beene that is made out of a feather light metallic silk lame. The color of the metallic fabric is a combination of a soft turquoise blue shot through with gold thread. The pattern this creates are a little series of squares and each one has a subtle leopard print worked into them. It is just amazing. Especially when you have it in hand and realize just how light and fine the fabric is. The set is made up of two pieces. The skirt is cinched in at the waist and has a pocket along one side. It widens out as it nears the hem and the lightness of the fabric makes it move wonderfully around you when you move. The matching top wraps around you to close, crossing at the front. I have tied it at the back but you could probably wrap it once more and tie it at the front if and ties at the back. On my dress form it ends up to be quite cropped and depending on how you tie it you can have to sit even higher up or slightly lower to close the gap a bit. Excellent condition

Both piece are unlined and the fabric is incredible. The skirt hooks to close at the waist and the top slips on and ties. You could move the hook on the skirt up or down a 1/2 inch or so in either direction and the top is adjustable with the tie. A pocket on the skirt where it hooks.

Top
Bust: to 19" flat across the back from side seam to side seam and the ties make t adjustable
Length: 16.5" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 35" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3514

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

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later and in 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy. When researching this dress I found a dress held by the Metropolitan Museum with a strikingly similar silhouette and also an editorial shot of a dress that uses the same printed fabric.

I love Geoffrey Beene's work during this time period and this particular dress is just divine. It is really a special piece and Museum worthy. The workmanship is very fine and it is surprisingly light weight despite all that is going on in it. The body of the dress is made from an ultra soft leopard printed chenille like fabric that is almost a faux fur but far lighter and more refined. It is almost like a long piled velvet. Very unusual and very interesting. This is mixed with a black silk netting that makes up the shoulders and sleeves. The netting is detailed with gold metallic thread and also with fused dots of a flat piled black velvet. The bodice is cut to curve around the bust and I love how the leopard printed fabric angles up the the mid-neck on both sides. The netting takes over at that point and curves over the shoulders and down the long sleeves. The extensive detailing work and the way the design is laid out is amazing. From there the fabric skims over the waist and hips and then narrows down to the hem. It is cut to curve in slightly and the hem is cut on a curve as well and has a high slit running up the center. It is really an amazing dress and a testament to Beene's genius. Excellent condition.

The fabric is self backed and the dress unlined. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Each sleeve has a hidden set snap at the cuff. Ribbon edge finished for all inner seams. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. Tagged a vintage size 6

Sleeves: approx 25"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to front hem, 58" to the back hem
Slit: 26" from hem up

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3484

Reference Photos: (1) Valerie Celis in Geoffrey Beene for Vogue US, 1994. Photo by Ellen Von Unwerth.  /  (2) Spring 1993 Geoffrey Beene dress from the MET Collection Online.

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

As soon as I set my eyes on this dress I knew I had seen it before and after some extensive hunting I found the photo that it had triggered a memory of. A version of this dress was photoed by Irving Penn for the September issue of Vogue in 1967. That dress was by Geoffrey Beene but in a different color way and a version with a higher neckline. They are otherwise identical and the fabric is as good in this color as it is in that shot. Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. This is a wonderful and very early example of his work.

I barely feel the need to describe this dress to you as Vogue description is utter perfection. The text in the editorial states the dress as being a "new cloth of glow... a printed matelasse with clear lacquer colors webbed with silver threads for the beautiful evening proportion of a small covered top and the widest sweep of skirt." Matelasse is French for 'quilted' or 'cushioned' and in usage with fabric, refers to quilted textiles. It is meant to mimic the style of hand-stitched Marseilles type quilts made in France. This gives the dress a slight dimensional quality. The silver thread runs over the fabric for the slightest glint of a metallic feel. The upper bodice is meant to be fitted and the sleeves are long and slim. The skirt sweeps out with the volume created by the fabric choice that helps to hold the shape and by the way it is set in around the waist. Like the reference photo, this version also has pockets hidden along each hip. It is absolutely wonderful in person and I think even better then how it photoed. I am so pleased to have found documentation of this rare and wonderful piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a silk taffeta in a pale peach color It closes with a back, painted metal zipper. Hand finished throughout. There is a good 4.5" of fabric turned up at the hem if you need more length and 2/5" turned up under each sleeve. Pockets along the seam on the hip

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips" open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3171

Reference photo: Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue US September 1967

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

I love the stark lines of this Geoffrey Beene dress and the contrast between the deep burgundy panels and the deeper cream parts of the dress. The two colors are set so that they become an integral part of the design and add both interest and length as the eye is pulled from the neck to the floor. The neck is high in a modified turtleneck that has a more sleek then slouched feel. The sleeves are long and lean and the bodice skims over the bust into the seamed waist where it softly, and just slightly, poufs over the seam there. The skirt flares out in a widening line from the waist to fall to the floor. The back is all the one burgundy color but the front has inset jersey panels done in a soft taupe cream color. These swoop down in a V on the top and are set as an inset panel of fabric in the skirt. This helps to add to the volume of the skirt and creates an interesting visual effect. The way it closes is fascinating with three different zippers layered and placed so that no bulk is created but that each element of the dress stays perfectly in place. Excellent condition

The top is lined with a inner taupe layer of the jersey and the skirt is unlined. It closes with three zippers, one that closes the inner jersey lining, a second long on that runs from the outside neck down inside the skirt and the last on the outer skirt. A zipper is also set at the end of each sleeve. The fabric has some stretch but the waist measurement is set and will not stretch further

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3141

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

Teal Traina once pointed to the entrance of his Seventh Avenue showroom and said: “It should say ‘school’ over the door.” That is because Teal, who inherited the label from his uncle Anthony Traina, hired many young designers who were just starting their careers. Geoffrey Beene, Dominic Rompallo, Chester Weinberg, Rodriguez and Kay Unger all worked for the label at some point. His uncle was also the financial backer for the Norman Norell label so you will often see a collaborative label between the two companies from the original partnership that started in 1941. Traina Inc launched in 1959 after the Traina-Norell partnership closed. At this point Geoffey Beene joined the company and remained there as the designer until 1963 when he left to start his own label. He said of his time there; “Traina was one of my original boosters. He left me alone and made it possible for me to do my own things. He had a great sense of humour. I shall forever be humbled to him.” This dress would have been made during the Beene years so has a double dose of fashion history as it is a fabulous example of the Traina label and a very early example of Beene's work as a young designer.

The dress is beyond gorgeous. It is made out of a heavy silk satin and this fabric choice allows it to maintain its wonderfully crisp lines while still feeling soft and romantic. There is that banded bodice that Beene would go on to do variations of throughout his career. The bodice is high set in an empire cut and is a simple wide band of a deep olive silk that wraps all the way around you. Above that a soft pale turquoise silk curves over the shoulders and is set on an angle in towards the banding on both the front and back. Sleeves extend down in a slim long line in the same pale turquoise silk. The skirt comes out from underneath the banding at the bodice and falls to the floor, widening out as it nears the hem. The skirt is a soft lavender colour. The unusual mix of colours that he has chosen is part of what gives the dress its beauty and the silk is heavy enough to help keep the shape you see. At the back the banding lies over the zip closure and then closes with two thick metal buttons that are covered in rhinestones. It is very beautiful and even though it is not 100% perfect it is sound and wearable and a fantastic dress that I personally would wear as is in a heartbeat. Overall great condition with notes below to review.

The bodice is lined in the same turquoise silk used on the exterior. The skirt is lined in a white silk mix muslin. It closes at the back with a metal zipper and then the banding buttons to close over that. Some stones are missing out of the buttons and there is a line of fading down each side of the skirt. Some grubbiness along the hem line. Sound and wearable. Extremely well made

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 47.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3596

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

25% OFF TAKEN AUTOMATICALLY AT CHECK OUT!

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later and in 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy.

This is an incredible set by Beene that is made out of a feather light metallic silk lame. The color of the metallic fabric is a combination of a soft turquoise blue shot through with gold thread. The pattern this creates are a little series of squares and each one has a subtle leopard print worked into them. It is just amazing. Especially when you have it in hand and realize just how light and fine the fabric is. The set is made up of two pieces. The skirt is cinched in at the waist and has a pocket along one side. It widens out as it nears the hem and the lightness of the fabric makes it move wonderfully around you when you move. The matching top wraps around you to close, crossing at the front. I have tied it at the back but you could probably wrap it once more and tie it at the front if and ties at the back. On my dress form it ends up to be quite cropped and depending on how you tie it you can have to sit even higher up or slightly lower to close the gap a bit. Excellent condition

Both piece are unlined and the fabric is incredible. The skirt hooks to close at the waist and the top slips on and ties. You could move the hook on the skirt up or down a 1/2 inch or so in either direction and the top is adjustable with the tie. A pocket on the skirt where it hooks.

Top
Bust: to 19" flat across the back from side seam to side seam and the ties make t adjustable
Length: 16.5" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 35" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3514

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

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later and in 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy. When researching this dress I found a dress held by the Metropolitan Museum with a strikingly similar silhouette and also an editorial shot of a dress that uses the same printed fabric.

I love Geoffrey Beene's work during this time period and this particular dress is just divine. It is really a special piece and Museum worthy. The workmanship is very fine and it is surprisingly light weight despite all that is going on in it. The body of the dress is made from an ultra soft leopard printed chenille like fabric that is almost a faux fur but far lighter and more refined. It is almost like a long piled velvet. Very unusual and very interesting. This is mixed with a black silk netting that makes up the shoulders and sleeves. The netting is detailed with gold metallic thread and also with fused dots of a flat piled black velvet. The bodice is cut to curve around the bust and I love how the leopard printed fabric angles up the the mid-neck on both sides. The netting takes over at that point and curves over the shoulders and down the long sleeves. The extensive detailing work and the way the design is laid out is amazing. From there the fabric skims over the waist and hips and then narrows down to the hem. It is cut to curve in slightly and the hem is cut on a curve as well and has a high slit running up the center. It is really an amazing dress and a testament to Beene's genius. Excellent condition.

The fabric is self backed and the dress unlined. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Each sleeve has a hidden set snap at the cuff. Ribbon edge finished for all inner seams. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. Tagged a vintage size 6

Sleeves: approx 25"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to front hem, 58" to the back hem
Slit: 26" from hem up

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3484

Reference Photos: (1) Valerie Celis in Geoffrey Beene for Vogue US, 1994. Photo by Ellen Von Unwerth.  /  (2) Spring 1993 Geoffrey Beene dress from the MET Collection Online.

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

As soon as I set my eyes on this dress I knew I had seen it before and after some extensive hunting I found the photo that it had triggered a memory of. A version of this dress was photoed by Irving Penn for the September issue of Vogue in 1967. That dress was by Geoffrey Beene but in a different color way and a version with a higher neckline. They are otherwise identical and the fabric is as good in this color as it is in that shot. Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. This is a wonderful and very early example of his work.

I barely feel the need to describe this dress to you as Vogue description is utter perfection. The text in the editorial states the dress as being a "new cloth of glow... a printed matelasse with clear lacquer colors webbed with silver threads for the beautiful evening proportion of a small covered top and the widest sweep of skirt." Matelasse is French for 'quilted' or 'cushioned' and in usage with fabric, refers to quilted textiles. It is meant to mimic the style of hand-stitched Marseilles type quilts made in France. This gives the dress a slight dimensional quality. The silver thread runs over the fabric for the slightest glint of a metallic feel. The upper bodice is meant to be fitted and the sleeves are long and slim. The skirt sweeps out with the volume created by the fabric choice that helps to hold the shape and by the way it is set in around the waist. Like the reference photo, this version also has pockets hidden along each hip. It is absolutely wonderful in person and I think even better then how it photoed. I am so pleased to have found documentation of this rare and wonderful piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a silk taffeta in a pale peach color It closes with a back, painted metal zipper. Hand finished throughout. There is a good 4.5" of fabric turned up at the hem if you need more length and 2/5" turned up under each sleeve. Pockets along the seam on the hip

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips" open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3171

Reference photo: Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue US September 1967

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

I love the stark lines of this Geoffrey Beene dress and the contrast between the deep burgundy panels and the deeper cream parts of the dress. The two colors are set so that they become an integral part of the design and add both interest and length as the eye is pulled from the neck to the floor. The neck is high in a modified turtleneck that has a more sleek then slouched feel. The sleeves are long and lean and the bodice skims over the bust into the seamed waist where it softly, and just slightly, poufs over the seam there. The skirt flares out in a widening line from the waist to fall to the floor. The back is all the one burgundy color but the front has inset jersey panels done in a soft taupe cream color. These swoop down in a V on the top and are set as an inset panel of fabric in the skirt. This helps to add to the volume of the skirt and creates an interesting visual effect. The way it closes is fascinating with three different zippers layered and placed so that no bulk is created but that each element of the dress stays perfectly in place. Excellent condition

The top is lined with a inner taupe layer of the jersey and the skirt is unlined. It closes with three zippers, one that closes the inner jersey lining, a second long on that runs from the outside neck down inside the skirt and the last on the outer skirt. A zipper is also set at the end of each sleeve. The fabric has some stretch but the waist measurement is set and will not stretch further

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3141

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