Ben Reig Evening Gown - 1969

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Are they palazzo pants or is it just a very full gown?  Hard to say, as there is no mention of the fact in the ad copy.  I. Magnin simply says, "dreamy moonbird.  Plunged in glamorous, gleamy silk satin by Ben Reig. Our exclusive."

Ben Reig, one of the designers beloved by America's well-to-do women, women who "are pillars of country clubs and who never get thrown out of restaurants," this said at a time when fashion was turned upside down by pants, plunging bra-less decolletage, mini skirts and see-through blouses.  "No wearer of a Ben Reig costume is going to get photographed because she's way-out, and no Ben Reig customer wants to be."

First quote by Angela Taylor writing for the New York Times, May 1969.
Second quote by Florence de Santis, New York reporter, January 1969.
Photo by Jack Cowley for I. Magnin, 1969. Model Lauren Hutton.

This Dress

FREE IMAGES Every once in awhile I find a vintage dress that sends me over the moon.  Yesterday, I added one such dress to the website.  Would you like the swoon with me?

It's a silk velvet dress from the 1930s.  This is the back which I am showing you so you can see the train...the ruffled train.

Here it is from the side.  See how deep that train is?  Lovely.  Even better, the dress comes with a matching jacket to cover up those bare shoulders if you like.

The jacket has white ermine fur cuffs.  So luxe!

Here's the ruffled hem in detail with the train at the back.  This photo has been dramatically lightened so you can see the detail.  What do you think?  Do you love it as much as I do?

Weekend Eye Candy - Givenchy, 1953

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Hubert de Givenchy designed this stunning ballgown in 1953.  White silk satin strapless gown is set off with an embroidered long stole lined in pink.

Yves St. Laurent Evening Gown

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Yves St. Laurent designs a gown that could have come straight out of his years at Dior in the 1950s.  What's old is always new again......this gown was part of his Spring/Summer Haute Couture collection in 1987.

Sarmi Evening Gown, 1959

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If ever there was a time to feature ball gowns and party dresses, it's during the holiday season.  So I think that is what I'll do!  Today's beauty from 1959: White silk satin embroidered in gold ball gown by Sarmi.  Worn with a matching opera coat lined in golden brown with brown velvet ribbons at the shoulders. 

Weekend Eye Candy - Norman Hartnell, 1960

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From the collection of the Fashion Museum in Bath, UK.  This Norman Hartnell gown from 1960 is fashioned of silk jersey that is embroidered and encrusted with rhinestones.  The matching jacket is trimmed in fox fur.