ARCHIVE - 1980s Arnold Scaasi Couture Black Velvet Rosette Dress
This exuberant 1980s to early 1990s evening dress is by Arnold Scaasi and is made to couture standards. It is from his most exclusive range which was only available in his New York salon.
A soft V-neckline at the front and rear forms an off-shoulder, sweetheart shape. The couture, silk blend fabric is the star of the show - festooned with polka-dots, some in tinsel-like metallic threads and others formed from velvet, it is adorned in places with fabric flowers. Scaasi’s ability to manipulate fabric is seen in the careful drapery with ruching adding detail to the sleeves, skirt and shoulders. The voluminous skirt holds its shape due to stiff tulle stitched into the hem and multiple layers of tulle. Beautifully lined, the interior conceals padding at the chest and a boned waist, creating a highly feminine silhouette on the wearer and finishing below the knee for most. There is a concealed zip at the back with a hook-and-eye clasp at the top. This piece is in truly excellent vintage condition and will fit up to a UK 12-14 or US 8-10. It looks unworn!
This dress was roomy on our model, size UK 8-10 and 5ft 11in (180 cm).
NOTES ON THE DESIGNER : Arnold Isaacs, known as Arnold Scaasi, was a Canadian fashion designer who designed dresses for a number of First Ladies including Mamie Eisenhower, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. Other Scaasi fans were Barbara Streisand, Joan Crawford, Ivana Trump, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor & Catherine Deneuve to name a few. His designs were noted for their tailoring and he became synonymous with glamorous evening wear and cocktail dresses.
MEASUREMENTS
Bust - 36 in. (91.5 cm)
Waist - 34 in. (86.36 cm)
Hip - 48 in. (122 cm)
Length - 39 in. (99 cm)
Pickup currently unavailable at CIRCA VINTAGE
F.A.Q.
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Will you set anything aside for me for my appointment?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website. We have an extensive offline collection. It is helpful if you can let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear. You may also wish to bring favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying-on, or gold and silver. We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look. Many of which are also for sale.
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Many of our lower priced pieces, under £250, are not available to buy online. Dresses usually start at £150 and go up to £30,000 for the very best archival couture. Our bridalwear price points range from £1,000 to £20,000.
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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.
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We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage purchases and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
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What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.