This dress is instantly recognizable as having been designed by Bob Mackie. He was best known for dressing Cher and for his signature glamourous looks. The best of his work are the pieces like this that are dripping with beadwork. Modern girls are obsessed with his vintage pieces. He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis prior to working as a costume designer and co-designing with Ray Aghayan. That led to his incredible journey in designing for stars like Cher and Diana Ross for many years. In some ways he and his creations defined their careers and that era of glamour. His work always has that touch of the best of the bygone glamor of Hollywood.

This is an amazing dress that is extremely sexy and flattering even though you are covered completely. The base of the dress is made of a black net and it is lined through the body with a black chiffon. Onto that is a pattern made up of beautiful curving vertical bands that feel like they are trailing over you from shoulder to hem. That design is made up of blue and silver glass tube beads that have been set in those curving bands over the entire dress. Scattered within those are little highlights done in a silver sequin with a tiny clear bead at their centers. This combination of the blue and pops of silver give the dress an extra layer of texture and glamour as every inch of it catches the light and sparkles. The dress has a decent weight to it when it is off of the body because of that extensive bead-work, and yet once on the body it drapes in a way that it is balanced and not at all unwieldy. The necklace is high and the collar is extremely detailed. The upper bodice has not been lined so you get a sense of transparency through the black net. The sleeves have also been left unlined so you see glimpses of skin through the pattern there as well as they run down to the wrist. The waist is brought in to create shape but there is no horizontal seam to break the lines of the design. The skirt is incredible and pure Bob Mackie in design. It is cut on a curve so the back is longer then the front and it has a high slit at one side of the front. The effect of this is far more dramatic and fabulous on a real body and it really shows off the legs. If you even remotely love it in the photos you will love when you see it in person. These were sent to the stores lined with that black chiffon through the body and it is already a touch transparent in a strong light but I have had people remove even that lining to get that more nude dress, even more see through feel that Mackie became so well known for. Excellent condition.

Lined through the body except for the areas as described above in a semi-sheer black chiffon. It closes with a back zipper and each sleeve has a zipper at its end. Tagged a vintage 4.

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59.5" from neck to longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4277

Reference Photo: Fall 1987 Bob Mackie. Model Dianne DeWitt.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.