• Arnold Scassi launched  his boutique line in 1984 and it was high end ready-to-wear and very expensive.
• Arnold Scaasi was born Arnold Isaacs in Montreal and the name Scassi is simply his own surname in reverse. He studied in Montreal and in Paris, apprenticed at the house of Paquin and then worked with the legendary Charles James. In 1964 he opened own couture salon.
• The sleeved version of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 1987 collection. It's very rare to find documentation from this time period and I love having that say that you can see how amazing it is on. I think this strapless one is even better.
• You can easily see the influence of Arnold having worked for Charles James in this piece. The lines are dramatic and yet elegant. 
• The dress is strapless and the top portion of the dress is made from an inky black velvet. It is dramatically shaped at the front with wired peaks and a V plunge at the front. 
• It nips in at the waist and then angles down from one side low on the hip on the other. On the side that sits higher up, there is a large bow detail that gives the effect of holding all the gathers of the skirt in place.
• The skirt is set under that and the long angling seam on the opposite hip adds visual length to the dress as it extends down and into a deep point. The skirt is quite full and the shape and volume that you see is held by the inner construction which is quite amazing.
• Layers of tulle netting set underneath the outermost layer of silk. The green of the skirt is a true brilliant emerald. This unexpected shock of colour is fantastic.
• Fully lined in a green silky rayon. The bodice is lightly boned and it closes with a hidden set side zipper. Built in stiff tulle under skirts and the skirt is interlined in a green organza. 
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.4" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 51" from top of peaks on bodice to hem with 3" turned under the top layer

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5101

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Arnold Scaasi.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• Arnold Scaasi was born Arnold Isaacs in Montreal and the name Scassi is simply his own surname in reverse. He studied in Montreal and in Paris, apprenticed at the house of Paquin and then worked with the legendary Charles James. In 1964 he opened own couture salon.
• This is a phenomenal piece from his main line that can be considered Demi Couture and would have been made to order.
• This is the type of piece you'll only ever find in vintage and you will probably never see another one of these again. It is so dramatic and in being so also so very Scaasi.  He himself once said 'I am not a minimalist designer! Clothes with some adornment are more interesting to look at and more fun to wear.'
• This piece is a dream and will be one of your favourite things. As good as it looks in the photos it is even better in person. The photos do not convey how the metallic fabric seems to glow from within and how it really holds all that incredible volume around you.
• It is made from a fantastic floral pattern set in grids that run across the entire piece. The flowers are the prettiest colours and then everything is washed over with the gold thread that covers the entire piece. The floral pattern completely covers the vest/coat giving it that phenomenal design that you see.
• The cut is purposefully oversized. The shoulders are soft and are cut to curve down for just a suggestion of a tiny cap at the shoulder.
• The sleeve opening are deep set so that it can be worn over something with wide sleeves if you wish to go full drama.
• It is designed with a loose and easy cut that falls from the shoulders and then opens out dramatically wide as it nears the hem. 
  
• There are large top set pockets on each hip. A single hook holds it in place at the top of the neck and then the rest just falls open down the entire front.
  
• The cut is meant to be oversized and it is meant to be worn that way so should fit a range of sizes. It will just be even more oversized on a smaller frame and feel more fitted on a larger.
• Unlined and hand finishes.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 30" flat across from side seam to side seam and widens out from there
Total length: 59" from neck to hem with 1.75" turn under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5098

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.