Object: Evening ensemble
Brand:
Bill Blass
(American, founded 1970)
Designer:
Bill Blass
(1922 - 2002)
Date: 1984
Medium: Red cashmere, silk satin
Country: USA
Credit Line: Gift of Bill Blass, Ltd.
Object number: 85.91.1
DescriptionEvening sweater ensemble; red cashmere knit reverse cardigan with open round front neck, V-neck and buttons in back, red silk satin long skirt and high heel pumps, leather gloves
Label Text:Bill Blass lengthened the cashmere cardigan, an American sportswear staple, and then unexpectedly turned it backward to create the long, columnar torso of this evening ensemble. The low folds of a silk satin skirt balance Blass' creation, which with its bold color, unusual styling, and luxurious fabrics captures the high drama of 1980s fashion - yet does so without sacrificing Blass' trademark breezy elegance.
Blass had a knack for appropriating elements of menswear and sportswear into his designs, creating confident, chic, and comfortable clothing. "The clothes always had a really American cool look," recalled socialite Nan Kempner in Blass' autobiography. "Glamour he gave, but it was the easiest kind,"
Blass had a knack for appropriating elements of menswear and sportswear into his designs, creating confident, chic, and comfortable clothing. "The clothes always had a really American cool look," recalled socialite Nan Kempner in Blass' autobiography. "Glamour he gave, but it was the easiest kind,"
In Collection(s)
Exhibitions:
- RED
- Fashion, A-Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT (Part Two)
- Seventh Avenue: Fashion Walk of Fame