Gorgeous Bill Blass Couture Vintage 1970s Royal Blue Silk Satin Belted 70s Dress
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: Small - Small Medium (US)Waist: 26 in (66.04 cm)Shoulder to Hem: 36 in (91.44 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6622707683
Bill Blass
Venerated designer and philanthropist Bill Blass helped define style for women of means during the late 20th century and inspired generations of fashion industry professionals and enthusiasts all over the world.
Blass designed garments that saw a playful mingling of notes both subdued and bold, and his clothes were comfortable, easy to wear and sexy. The Indiana native was influenced by the likes of Coco Chanel and became famous for refined, simple looks that appealed to prominent women such as Brooke Astor and Gloria Vanderbilt.
Blass didn’t endeavor to produce showstoppers — he worked with quality materials, and his modern designs boasted meticulous tailoring. He glamourized sportswear with chic lines and dramatic colors, and by way of subtle, graceful ruffles or a tasteful application of sequins, he introduced modest flair to his day dresses and evening dresses. Vintage Bill Blass clothing is just as relevant today as it was during the height of his career.
Blass, who spent his spare time sketching red-carpet looks in his school notebooks as a kid, left home at 17 and moved to New York City, where he trained at the McDowell School of Fashion. After finishing design school, he joined the U.S. Army and fought in World War II. When the war was over, Blass returned to Manhattan. In 1946 he joined the fashion house Anna Miller and Co., where he worked as a design assistant for Anna Miller and her brother Maurice Rentner.
Anna Miller and Co. merged with Maurice Rentner, Ltd. in 1959, and Blass became the company's head designer. There he quickly built a name for himself and was soon a staple of the postwar fashion scene, impressing even the fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar at the time, Diana Vreeland. Blass expanded into designing menswear and was the first couture designer in America to create a collection for men.
In 1970, Blass gained ownership of Rentner and renamed the company after himself. Blass employed a licensing-based business strategy, and soon his name marked a full array of accessories and apparel, including Bill Blass jeans, watches, home furnishings, eyewear and luggage. Blass's renown and success expanded considerably, as fashion bearing his name became more accessible than it had ever been.
Throughout his life, Blass made considerable contributions to the AIDS care center at Cornell Medical Center and to the New York Public Library. In 1962, he became a founding member of the Council of Fashion Designs of America (CFDA) trade association, which promotes American designers around the world. The CFDA presented Blass with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987, and he was the first recipient of their Humanitarian Leadership Award in 1996.
Find vintage Bill Blass fashion on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Karl Lagerfeld 1980s Size 44 / US 10 Navy Blue Silk Chiffon Vintage 80s DressBy Karl LagerfeldLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful late 80s KARL LAGERFELD navy + ivory silk chiffon sleeveless dress. Features a navy body with semi sheer ivory above the bust. Hidden zipper up the back with hook-and-eye c...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Blue Black Floral Print Vintage 80s Silk Dress Size 42By Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in San Diego, CAAmazing 1980s YVES SAINT LAURENT YSL Rive Gauche blue and black floral / rose print short sleeve silk dress ! Pockets at each side of the waist. Features a vibrant blue flowers and r...Category
1980s French Cocktail Dresses
- 1980s Holly’s Harp Navy Blue Colorful Silk Chiffon Flapper Style Vintage DressBy Holly HarpLocated in San Diego, CAFabulous early 80s HOLLY’S HARP silk chiffon flapper style dress ! Navy blue, with shades of red, purple, green and yellow throughout. Simply slips over the head. Attached caplet dra...Category
1980s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1950s Size 0 Cobalt Blue Silk Damask Fit n' Flare Vintage 50s Rockabilly DressLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful 1950s Size 0 cobalt blue silk damask fit n' flare sleeveless rockabilly dress ! Features a tailored bodice with a full skirt. Full metal zip...Category
1950s Cocktail Dresses
- Versace Spring 2008 Runway Purple Blue Cape Back Jersey Avant Garde Dress Sz 42By Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace for Gianni VersaceLocated in San Diego, CASexy Spring 2008 Runway ( Look # 40 ) GIANNI VERSACE Avant Garde cape back sleeveless purple Grecian style dress! Features the perfect vibrant purp...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- 1990s Angel Sanchez Navy Blue Silk Vintage 90s Strapless Evening Gown DressBy Angel SanchezLocated in San Diego, CAStunning late 1990s ANGEL SANCHEZ Couture navy blue silk strapless mermaid evening gown ! The perfect alternative to black, this shade of navy bl...Category
1990s American Evening Gowns
- Vintage 1990 Givenchy Haute Couture Sapphire Blue Draped Silk Velvet DressBy GivenchyLocated in Beverly Hills, CAGivenchy, the name itself evokes glamour, refined elegance, simplicity and style. Givenchy's trademark of sculpted lines and luxurious fabrics make his work easily recognizable. This gorgeous cocktail, dating back to his 1990 Fall-Winter runway collection, is a beautiful example of his brilliance. The fabric itself is a masterpiece; liquid silk velvet in the prettiest sapphire blue color. I adore the seductive criss-cross plunge bodice with lean, long zipper-wrist sleeves. The sparkling rhinestone-encrusted side buttons create the perfect amount of drama to this timeless piece. An hourglass nipped-waist skirt with side draping finishes this garment off with a perfect femme fatale vibe. It is an exquisite example of wearable luxurious from one of the most important houses of the modern era. Measurements Bust: 36-37 inches Waist: 26 inches Hips: up to 39 inches Sleeve Length: 24 inches Total Length: 46 inches This vintage Givenchy Haute-Couture 72436 numbered dress...Category
1990s Cocktail Dresses
- John Galliano Vintage Teal Blue Silk Halter GownBy John GallianoLocated in Beverly Hills, CABeautiful Late 1990s John Galliano empire sweetheart bust bias cut gown with thin spaghetti strap with slit. Big bow ties in the front. Fit US size 4 or 6 Bu...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses
- Emanuel Ungaro 1980s Wrap Silk DressBy Emanuel UngaroLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous blue and off white elaborate abstract pattern silk damask wrap dress from Emanuel Ungaro Parallele. It has a V neckline with a wrap semi fitted hip length bodice tying at the side waist. The long sleeves have zipper cuff sleeves with upper arm...Category
1980s Italian Day Dresses
- Gianni Versace New Turquoise Leather Dress 1990sBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Water Mill, NYAn incredible turquoise leather dress from Gianni Versace. It is sleeveless with a V neckline and plunging V to the waist in the back. The shoulders are gathered onto fine gold metal...Category
1990s Italian Day Dresses
- Vintage Moroccan Designer Kaftan Turquoise Maxi Dress Kaftan SmallLocated in North Hollywood, CAElegant vintage designer Moroccan turquoise blue kaftan, embroidered with turquoise and white trim. This chic Bohemian maxi dress kaftan is embroidered and embellished with a blue and white trim. One of a kind evening Moroccan Middle Eastern gown. Vintage exotic 1970s floral blue brocade dress kaftan handmade in North Africa, Morocco. Size Small. Dress measurement flat: Shoulder: 16" Sleeve: 22" Chest: 18" Hip: 22" Total length: 52" Handcrafted by Moroccan artist designer, this is a one of a kind caftan, inspired by the tales of princess of the Arabian Nights. The Kaftan is a long and wide tunic, collarless, long-sleeved, worn by man and women in Africa and the Middle East. The Moroccan kaftans inspired European and global designers as Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and many more who made the Moorish caftans...Category
20th Century Moroccan Caftans
- Vintage 1950's Beaumelle Sapphire Organza & Metallic Lace One-Shoulder DressBy BeaumelleLocated in Beverly Hills, CAFashioned from vibrant sapphire blue mid weight silk-organza, this 1950's Beaumelle creation has everything a woman wants. The bodice has a gorgeous ruched asymmetric one-shoulder shelf bust design. I adore the sparkling metallic threaded lace detail which is so playful and elegant at the same time. The alluring full pleated circle-skirt finishes this beauty off with a perfect Christian Dior New Look...Category
1950s American Aesthetic Evening Dresses