A striking and fluid green silk jersey gown from Bill Blass dating to the 1970s.
The gown’s silhouette – a deep plunge V-neck, gathered (cinched) waist, and voluminous “cape” or dolman-style sleeves – aligns with designs Blass was showing in the 1973–1974 season.
Blass often let the drape and color be the statement, especially in his purest jersey gowns.
Blass was one of five American designers to triumph at the famous Battle of Versailles in November 1973, where the Americans wowed Paris with sleek, color-rich jersey gowns (as Stephen Burrows recalled: “All gowns… Mostly matte jersey, chiffon” at that show)
A blend of retro glamour and modern minimalism.
😻TLDR 😻
ERA- 1969-1973
Label- EARLY Bill Blass
Color: Emerald Green
Style: Draped Caftan (Kaftan) Maxi Gown with Deep V
Fabric: Fluid medium-weight knit with soft sheen
Measurements (detailed measurements)
Bust- up to 38–42 in Waist- 26–41 in Length Front Panels- 52 inches each Length Back Single Panel- 59 inches Shoulder to Shoulder- 14-15 inches Front Panels- Width of 16 inches each “Sleeves”- 16 inches
Provenance- From the legendary Hollywood Legacy Wardrobe Rental Company CRC, which only rented to movie and television productions. Similar, and right next door to, Western Costume Rental.
Condition- 7 out of 10 Some scattered small pinholes, surface snags, and discoloration present — all shown clearly in photographs. Elastic has given out. I suggest utilizing invisible thread and a professional to make repairs. The dirt and stains seem to be from someone stepping on the item and are not as noticeable when morning and might come out
Structurally strong.
NEEDS DRY CLEANING BEFORE WEARING
Purchased from the sadly defunct legendary legacy Hollywood movie costume rental company CRC.
😻😻 I have a big white fluffy cat, I do my best to keep her fur off the clothing I’m selling and she does her best to thwart to me 😻😻
About the Dress (longer)
Striking emerald green Bill Blass caftan gown from the early 1970s, made during his tenure as head of his namesake label, which launched officially in 1970 after he took over the Maurice Rentner label. This gown matches known silhouettes from the 1973-1974 collection, helping confirm the production date.
This draped evening gown features bold architectural design elements. It is constructed from a fluid knit fabric with a medium weight and soft sheen, allowing for strong vertical drape and movement. The color is a vivid emerald green that reads consistently in natural and studio lighting.
The gown has a dramatic deep V neckline in front and back, with an internal set of working snaps at the waist for structure and modesty. Generous dolman-style sleeves and side paneling create an elegant, unstructured silhouette.
A blend of retro glamour and modern minimalism. The deep V and cape sleeves have a 1930s Hollywood inflection.
This is meant to be worn over another piece whether you choose that to be a body suit, a swimsuit, or another dress. Neither of the sides nor the bottom part of the skirt connect on the sides with the exception of the small bit of fabric at the waist.
The interior is just as carefully constructed. The dress is fully finished inside out, with flat seams and overlock stitching for durability, likely for professional costume use.
Of particular note is the hem, which is finished with a narrow machine-rolled edge, much like those seen on scarves. This technique maintains the gown’s light movement and fluidity without adding extra bulk — a hallmark of designer craftsmanship in this period.
Most likely, the gown’s fabric is either a silk jersey or a “Qiana” type nylon jersey, given Blass’s known usage. In either case, it is a matte jersey knit with excellent drape. The “weave” is actually a knit – likely a single jersey stitch (flat on the face, slight cross-rib on the reverse) which would be typical for silk or nylon jersey.
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Over the next few months I will be listing over 250 clothing items 1940-1970’s purchased from CRC.
Some of them have been hanging in the warehouse for 30, or 40 years.
Most of them desperately need dry cleaning and are being sold with that in mind.
The coolness of owning a real Hollywood costume piece, even if it was something only worn by extras, it’s not something you can put a price on.
CRC was one of the last big costume houses
Listing everything will take me several months, maybe even a year.
Please understand that I am unavailable to take further measurements of garments due to the overwhelming amount I need to examine, photograph, and list.
About CRC
CRC provided costumes for decades of films, including Apocalypse Now, Barbie, and Everything Everywhere All at Once
This is being sold as is and as photographed.
😻😻 Your purchase helps me continue to fund my artistic work as a photographer in Hollywood California. It also helps me to feed my increasingly finicky cat who now only wants the most expensive cat food 😻😻