Classic 1970s Biba by Barbara Hulanicki Purple Metallic Lame Party Dress
Sold Out
Description
Playful yet vampy in that particularly Biba style! The shimmering purple metallic dress falls slightly above the knee, has long sleeves, an empire waist, deep V - neckline, and ribbon waist tie on back. The dress is fantastic, with subtle 1970s - does - Victorian details like the puffed shoulders, pinched bustline, and pointed sleeve. The deep purple is so totally Biba, we can just picture it in the boudoir - like atmosphere of the Big Biba department store on Kensington, displayed between a black vase of golden peacock feathers and a plush velvet settee.
This Mini dress is the classic "The Biba Look;” the doe eyed waif that was the hippest on the streets of London and about town. It was just this kind of dress and the fact that “young ... beautiful skinny”* women such as Anna Wintour worked at the store, that made the label and the look so desired then and both collectible and wearable today!
* Levy, Shawn (2003). Ready, steady, go ! swinging London and the invention of cool. London: Fourth Estate. p. 7. ISBN 978-1841152264.
BUST
36 in. (91.44 cm)
WAIST
30 in. (76.2 cm)
HIP
40 in. (101.6 cm)
LENGTH
38 in. (96.52 cm)
-
Materials & Techniques
-
Size
-
Size Chart
Related Items
Early 1980s Halston IV Black Jersey Knit Dolman Sleeved Kaftan
Sold Out
Simple, elegant, and small splash of detail: all the components within a classic Halston piece.
This Kaftan's cut features a deep v neck with a seam the comes down to a slit that allows for breathability and mobility for the wearer. The dolman styled sleeves twist towards the wrist for a bit of a sculptural aesthetic. The hem falls down to the ankle for a relaxed, convenient length. Overall this dress is a staple of Halston's design, never fading from fashion and always perfect for evening dates.
Roy Halston Frowick was born on 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa. He initially took inspiration to sew from his grandmother. He would create hats for his mother and alter clothing for his sisters. His foundation in fashion progressed in his teen years as he attended Indiana University for a short spell and then The Art Institute of Chicago while earning funds through creating windows displays. Hat making would be his first love and in 1957 opened his first shop. While he had a small but important following, it wasn’t until Jacqueline Kennedy wore her famous (Halston) Pillbox hat in ‘61 that he became an instant success. He rode the wave of fame and fortune for a while but once hats started to go out of fashion, so did Halston’s sales. Halston’s low point would prove to be a test for what was next in his life. After much experimentation, a failed collection, and the help of his well curated team, he developed the minimalist yet irresistible look we all know and love! He was a true creator of culture during his time. Halston’s work was revered within the studio 54 crowd, worn by all the “It Girls” and on the cover of popular magazines.
Lanvin Mod Meets Art Nouveau Lily Pad Floral Dress, 1970s
$620.00
This 1970s mod (with a nod to art nouveau revival) dress by Lanvin is absolutely gorgeous! The dress features long, full cuffed sleeves, an exaggerated pointed wing collar, and includes a wide sash belt. The shirtwaist dress buttons from hem to collar. The amazing floral print begins as a woven geometric design that blooms upwards into flowers. The print's vibrant azure blue, apple green, and bold Hollywood pink lie vividly against a white background. Fantastic!
Designed by Jules Fancois Crahay
Modern US Size: 8
Dress - Bust: 39, Waist: 38, Hip: 39 1/2, Shoulder Hem Length: 57 3/4, Wrist: 9 1/2 inches
Belt - Length: 63, Width: 4 inches
*All garments and accessories have been professionally cleaned and thoroughly checked before shipping. They are ready to wear upon arrival.
*Shipping includes signature required and insured full value
Rare 1970 Geoffrey Beene Mushroom Print Babydoll Set
Sold Out
zGeoffrey Beene Cotton Mushroom Foraging Ensemble... one of his first pieces in his first diffusion line he started in 1970.
Unbearably cute ensemble features color blocked mini dress with a playful mushroom print allover and one large pocket ( to go foraging for mushrooms).
The pants have a slightly wide fit with a cinched waist. This whole outfit is so perfect for a summer picnic or a nice breezy walk in the woods!
Mini Dress: Bust 34"--Waist 32"
Pants: Waist 29"--Hips 42"--Inseam 29.5"
Geoffrey Beene began his career in the 1950s, designing under numerous New York houses including Teal Traina, finally opening his own label in 1963. Beene was incredibly conscious of the human body, and was particularly regardful of the figure in motion - as Beene once said“clothing is nothing until it hits the body." His designs were created to work with the client’s body, encasing it lightly and giving it a more artful structure. Beene's reinterpretations of dress formality, use of synthetics, and unusual combination of materials (accessories in acrylic and diamonds, for example), set him aside from his contemporaries who focused on the business of fashion, rather than the artistry of fashion.
