• The dress dates to the 1970s making it an earlier piece of his work.
• It was made under the creative direction of Bill Blass
• Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. 
• Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly.
• The dress is made from a light weight black silk organza and it is an easy-to-wear and very pretty dress.
• The dress is made to look as if it wraps around you but it actually is fully secured all the way around. The bodice has a cross over front and it skims over you to the waist.
• At the back it closes with a hook and eye at the top of the neck and then there is an open keyhole slit to where the zipper begins just above the waist.
• I love how the back and upper part of the shoulders are made from only one layer of the organza so that they have a touch of transparency.
• This transparency has been carried over to the sleeves as well. The sleeves are spectacular. Each one is extremely full and balloons out over the cuffs. They are also open with a keyhole from the top of the shoulder to the wrist. The wrist is highlighted with a bow made from the same organza and then you have a huge double ruffle of silk that falls over your hands.
• The waist is brought in and has an attached band of the same organza that you tie to one side.
• Under that the skirt falls to the floor and widens out beautifully. It is scooped up at the front at one side and there is another double layer of ruffles that begins at the top of the hip and then falls all the way to the floor. It follows the edge of the skirt all the way around the back and then scoops up the other side. This adds that incredible volume and drama to the skirt that you see. 
• The skirt is lined underneath and the inner skirt has a smaller open slit so that your full leg is not exposed. If you wanted to, you could easily expand that inner slit so that opened all the way up and you more of your leg.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk. It closes at the back of the neck with a hook at the top of the neck and a zipper starting just above the waist. Each cuff hooks to close and the belt at the waist snaps into place. Perhaps the tiniest bit of fading to an edge here or there but this is a natural occurrence with this type of fabric in this age of garment and I am being pretty picky.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 29" including the 6" ruffle. They are 15" around the upper arm.
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 61" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5537

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