1950s Martha Boutique Black and Turquoise Beaded Tassel Dress
This luxurious and weighty 1950s black, brown and turquoise evening dress is from the famous Martha Boutique. Martha Phillips founded her high-end Park Avenue boutique in the 1930s and sold the best fashions to the upper echelon of New York and Palm Beach society for decades. She and her daughter went on to open six further shops across the USA. Martha stores became fashion hubs and played host to fashion shows starring designers such as Halston, Valentino, James Galanos and Pauline Trigère. To quote The New York Times, Miss Martha and her daughter were "the doyennes of Haute Couture in America." The last Martha boutique closed in 2003 in Palm Beach.
This decadent dress is couture-crafted from a deep black brown satin silk. It has a classic late 1950s to early 1960s silhouette which is fitted from the bust down and falls to below the knee. The dress is hand-adorned with rows of decadent black glass beaded tassels that cross the body horizontally; they sway and catch the light as the wearer walks. Across the waist is a panel of turquoise satin silk. This fastens at the back with four pretty flat bows. The bust is boned the whole way around which cinches and shapes the body. The straps of this dress are crafted from turquoise satin - it is of a slightly different finish so we believe these may have been added later, though this difference is not noticeable when worn. The dress is lined with black silk and fastens at the back with a hidden tonal zip and hook-and-eye clasp.
This piece is in excellent vintage condition with no flaws of any note. It has no size or composition labels and the fabric has no stretch. It measures a best fit for sizes UK 6-8, US 2-4 and fits our model well who is a UK 6 or US 2 and 5'7" or 170 cm.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)
WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)
HIP - 36 in. (91 cm)
LENGTH - 42.5 in. (108 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Will you set anything aside for me before I come?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website - please let us know a week in advance.
We also have an extensive offline collection. If you let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget, we can browse through our archive in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear when trying on garments from certain eras, especially the 1950s. Vintage clothing was often worn with undergarments that shaped the waist and as such is tailored for them.
We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look; many of which are also for sale.
You may also wish to bring your favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying on, or a pair in gold or silver.
Do you have a price range?
Many of our lower-priced pieces (under £150) are not available to buy online. Our prices range from £80 - £600 for separates. Dresses start at around £150 and go up to £2,500 for the very best antique pieces and designer vintage. Our bridalwear ranges from £300 - £3,000.
Can I bring anyone with me?
Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.
Where can I get alterations?
We offer some alterations in house. Should you need alterations we cannot provide, we can refer you to one of our tried and trusted tailors.
Do you have an after-care service?
We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage pieces and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
Can I cancel my appointment?
You are free to cancel but please do give us as much notice as possible. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you will be invoiced a late cancellation fee of £25.
Where's the showroom?
Our address is Circa Vintage, 87A Lansdowne Way London SW8 2PB
Upon arrival, buzz the 87A button on the gate or call us 020 7736 5038 to let you in.
Do you have parking?
We offer free, secure, off-street parking but it is a tight squeeze – so do let us know in advance if you will be needing this and we can make sure that there is space available.
How do I get there by public transport?
Underground:
Stockwell (7 min walk) - Northern and Victoria Lines
Nine Elms (9 min walk) – Northern Line
Overground:
Wandsworth Road (13 min walk) – Westbound to Clapham Junction / Eastbound to Dalston Junction
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit/debit card, bank transfer, contactless, Paypal