1980 Bill Blass Matisse Print Silk Chiffon Overlay & Matching Shift Dress Set
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: US 10 (US)
- Style:Art to Wear (In the Style Of)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Gresham, OR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5011634372
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: Gresham, OR
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1980s Gianni Versace Yellow and Black Floral Print Silk Dress w Draped BackBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Gresham, ORA sexy 1980s Gianni Versace silk cocktail dress in a yellow and black 1940s-inspired floral print. A loose chemise fit with a slightly pegged hem and a reverse-printed, dramatically...Category
1980s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Torso Creations Macrame Leather Fringe "Dream Catcher" W/ Delicate Lace TrimBy Torso CreationsLocated in Gresham, ORTorso Creations "Dream Catcher" dress in off-white sheer chiffon, in a Dolman silhouette and tapered hem with scalloped rows of tiny ecru lace ruffles throug...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Casual Dresses
- Torso Creations Red Silk Chiffon Caftan Heavily Embroidered W/ Gold & SequinsBy Torso CreationsLocated in Gresham, ORTorso Creations Red Silk Chiffon Caftan Heavily Embroidered W/ Gold & Sequins. One of a kind and uniquely fashioned from vintage red silk chiffon sari fabric in the style of Thea Por...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Caftans
- 1980s Galanos Silk Dress in a Hounds Tooth Plaid W/ Matching Wool Jacket & ScarfBy James Galanos, GalanosLocated in Gresham, ORA lovely 1980s Galanos wool houndstooth jacket and Galanos silk mini dress in a novelty hound's tooth window pane plaid pattern (black, tan and oxblood palette). Includes matching si...Category
1980s American Mini Dresses
- 1940s Chartreuse Rayon Crepe Print Swing Dress w/ Draped Hip & Cummerbund WaistLocated in Gresham, ORA beautiful 1940s Marian McCoy chartreuse and cream abstract print coral/floral rayon crepe dress with draped hip detail, separate cummerbund belted waist, short sleeved drop shoulde...Category
1940s American Cocktail Dresses
- 1940s Orchid Print Rayon Crepe Dress W/ Dramatic Orchid CorsageLocated in Gresham, OR1940s Orchid print rayon crepe dress: Large-scale orchid print makes this fabulous V-neck dinner dress really pop! Long sleeves and a sarong-style pleated and gathered panel at sid...Category
1940s American Cocktail Dresses
- JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Femme S/S 2001 Rust Brown Constellation Faces Maxi DressBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Scottsdale, AZJean Paul Gaultier lovers this way!! Gautlier is known as the "troublemaker" and is highly known to take risks and push the envelope. He celebrates femininity in any and every possib...Category
Early 2000s Italian Maxi Dresses
- Dolce & Gabbana gold lace and python shirt dress, ss 2005By Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GB▪ Dolce & Gabbana gold lace and python shirt dress ▪ Python trim ▪ 4 front python flap pockets ▪ Matching python belt ▪ Rolled-up sleeves ▪ Tortoise butt...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Alexander McQueen 2009 Futuristic Crystalized Print Sheath Dress -newBy Alexander McQueenLocated in Los Angeles, CAAlexander Mcqueen's Spring 2009 collection showcases the romantic, ethereal and purist side of the designer in his effort to send his message regarding the evolution of the world in ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Sheath Dresses
- Gorgeous Gucci Eye Catching Floral Boho Chic DressBy GucciLocated in Los Angeles, CAGucci's Fall 2016 runway show was an exhibition in itself. Alessandro Michele delivered a palette rich in lavish embroideries, fine fabric, and masterful designs. Michele has bee...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Evening Dresses
- Alberta Ferretti Short Dress w JewelBy Alberta FerrettiLocated in Milano, ITStunning champagne-colored dress designed by Alberta Ferretti in the 1990s, made in Italy. ORIGINAL LABEL. The dress is short to the thigh and is entirely made of a soft champagne-co...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
- F/W 2002 Gianni Versace by Donatella Psychedelic Print Sheer Strapless DressBy Gianni Versace Couture, Donatella VersaceLocated in West Hollywood, CAPresenting a psychedelic print quilted strapless Gianni Versace Couture dress, designed by Donatella Versace. This gorgeous dress debuted on the Fall/Winter 2002 runway as look numbe...Category
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses