Bill Blass

Artist Info

Bill Blass1922 - 2002

As a young man, Bill Blass was swept away by an image of American movie legend Carol Lombard wearing a man's tailored jacket and trousers. "Lombard was (the) new thing," he said, "and her style - that wonderfully racy, I don't give-a-damn quality - was the essence of American chic." Also influenced by the work of Norman Norell and Hattie Carnegie, Blass used luxurious fabrics and elements of menswear to create urbane, sophisticated clothes. His "gals," as he called his clients, included New York socialites, First Ladies, and many Hollywood stars. A savvy businessman with prolific licensing agreements, Blass sold his company to its backers in 1999 and died three years later.

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Navy blue coat with cream window pane check, coordinating cream bodice and underdress

Ensemble

Bill Blass

1967

82.69.1

Navy blue coat with cream window pane check wool, coordinating bodice and coordinating underdress

Coat

Bill Blass

c. 1970

79.116.2

White linen coat printed with winged animal design in black, gold, mauve pink interspersed with red, gold, black floral and diamond design

Navy blue and white pinstriped suit with matching belt, knee length straight skirt, white colla…

Ensemble

Bill Blass

c. 1974

76.44.2

Navy blue wool Norfolk style jacket with white pin stripe, matching belt and white silk crepe shirt and matching navy striped slim skirt

Red cashmere cardigan with deep V that opens to the back and hits below hips with floor length,…

Evening ensemble

Bill Blass

1984

85.91.1

Evening sweater in red cashmere knit; reverse cardigan with open round front neck, V-neck and buttons in back, padded shoulders, long sleeves, elongated to knee, square patch pockets. Long skirt in red silk satin with full flounce gathered at knee level into seam of deep hip yoke. High heel evening pumps in red silk satin, with rounded point toe. Red leather wrist-length gloves.

Detail of black long sleeve turtle neck dress with gold thread and beaded pockets and cuffs

Bill Blass

Fall 1986

2001.41.3

Black cashmere knit evening turtleneck floor length sweater dress with pointed cuffs and patch pockets encrusted with strapwork in gold metallic threads, beads and cord, black seed pearls and sequins; black satin buckle belt

Evening set

Bill Blass

Spring 1989

2009.16.59

Evening set consisting of black sequin t-shirt style top with trompe l'oeil multi-strand pearl necklace with jewel medallion and ivory pleated silk palazzo pants

Evening sheath with navy blue mock turtleneck bodice and floor length white sequin skirt

Evening dress

Bill Blass

Spring/Summer 1993

2005.90.11

Sleeveless two tone evening sheath with long torso mock turtleneck bodice in navy blue silk jersey, and contrast floor length straight skirt in white sequins by the yard on white jersey; CB zipper