DETAILS: This vintage 1960s cocktail dress is fabulous, completely covered in glass beads, and weighing an impressive four pounds! The silhouette is a lightly fitted sheath with rounded neckline. The body of the dress is opaque but the 3/4 length sleeves are peekaboo sheer. The dress is completely covered in glass beading sewn onto a net background. The neckline and sleeve bottoms are edged in a narrow band of bugle bead in a pattern that resembles braiding. The rest of the beading is an overall pattern of stylized flora and swirls.


SIZE: Labeled 14
Bust - 38" (96.5cm)
Waist - 36" (91.5cm)
Hips - 38" (96.5cm)
Length - 39.5" 100.25
Sweep - 41" (104cm)



FABRIC/COLORS: The dress is uniformly black. The glass beads are a combination of small bugle beads and fairly large seed beads, each about 2mm in diameter or a little less. The beaded layer is done on a sturdy net, backed with lightweight organza to lie smoothly against the skin. The body of the dress is fully lined in satin, with the silky side against the skin. I don't have access to snip fabric for a fiber burn test - I would guess either silk or rayon.


TAGS: Elsie Tu, Hong Kong.


CLOSURES: A long metal YKK zipper down the back.


CONDITION: No stains, holes, tears or other issues noted. There may be some small aread of missing beads but nothing obvious.