Early Ferragamo pieces are highly collectible and in their day they were sought after. Women like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot were huge fans of the label. From the sixties through to the early eighties the Ferragamo label was known world wide for pieces that incorporated gorgeous graphics and cutting edge designs. This dress is extremely well made and a very dramatic and bold dress that will definitely turn heads. 

This dress is entirely covered with hundreds of thousands of glass beads. When it is off the body it it heavy. I weighed it on my scale and it comes in at just under 7 pounds. And yet it drapes and sits on the body in a very balanced way. You can definitely tell it is a high end piece given all that weight. It is very rare that you would see a dress this heavy in a new piece. Usually heavy applications of glass bead work is reserved for modern couture or far older pieces then this. The cut of this dress is a very flattering one shoulder silhouette. The base fabric is a fine red silk chiffon and then it is lined in a second inner layer of a red silk chiffon. The one side curves up and over the shoulder and then from there it curves gracefully across the back and the bottom point of the plunge sits slightly towards the back. The shoulder is twisted for a pretty detail. The angle the open side is cut on is fairly sharp so it really leaves you bare on the one side. The waist is seamed but not cinched and the dress has its original fully beaded, matching belt that you can wrap and tie around you to add more shape. The dress falls to the floor from there and the skirt widens out as it nears the floor. There are many yards of fabric in the skirt and one side of the back skirt has more folds and gathered fabric. This is done on the more bare side of the bodice and it a deliberate detail to add extra volume there and highlight the open plunge above it. It is also cut slightly longer here as well for a pretty nod to a train without being a train. The beads are done in both a flat pattern towards the bottom and then are more a looped design towards the upper part of the dress. This gives the beads a very subtle bit of movement. The beads are the same red as the dress. They catch the light with your slightest movement and from every angle. It is just spectacular. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a red silk chiffon. It closes with a side zipper and an inner waist stay hooks to close. Tagged 40. I see a small ares on one side of the bodice where the fabric has been folded and sewn. The angle is sharp and I am sure this was done so it fully covers the bust of you are smaller chested. I left it could it could be easily un-tacked. I see a small area of missing beads near the zipper and one near the edge of the arm hole side. Please see the photos after the label shot. There is the occasional loose thread or missing bead here and there but there are so many thousands of beads its minor and its pretty much unavoidable with a dress with this many beads  

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem and 47" to the one slightly longer part at the side of the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3952

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