Iconic Resort 1980 Runway Fully Hand Beaded on Red Silk Chiffon Halston w Plunge Front

This one of the most spectacular Halston dresses I have had in the shop. It's twin walked the Resort 1980 runway and I am very pleased to have those reference photos for you so that you can see how amazing this piece is one the body. I have also included a photo of Halston with models from the Spring 1981 show because he repeated this dress with slight modifications to create an entire series of pieces with a similar feel to them which I found fascinating. At this point Halston was still in full control of his brand. He had not yet signed the international licensing agreements that would be the beginning of his downfall in 1983. He was at the top of his game and anyone who was anybody was wearing the Halston label. His prices were sky high and the work put into the pieces was impeccable. This is a fabulous example of his work and it really is one of the most special pieces I have had from his label. It is instantly recognizable as being from him. It is a spectacular dress.

This dress is entirely covered with hundreds of thousands of glass beads and yet it drapes and sits on the body in a very balanced way. This was part of his genius and his ability to create these masterpieces that sit perfectly on the body. The cut of this dress is spectacular. The base fabric is a fine red silk chiffon and then the skirt is lined with a layer of a red silk chiffon. The top part only has lining at the very front so everywhere else has a touch of transparency through the silk and beads. It is very sexy. The dress slips on and closes at the waist with a hook and eye closure and then it has hidden snaps under that at the front. It is seamed under that a bit down the center and then it has a high front center slit that shows your legs when you walk. The dress has its original fully beaded, matching belt that you can wrap and tie around you to add more shape at the waist. The dress falls to the floor from there and the skirt widens out slightly as it nears the floor. The top is spectacular. It is cut to skim over you to eh waist and the front plunges to the waist band. Is has a hidden hook and eye if you want to make it a little bit more modest but with the way that it's held closed and the beaded belt sash that goes around the waist, it is actually safe to wear it in its full plunge and how it was worn on the runway. The sleeves begin just above the waist same and then narrowed down at the cuffs. That makes them very full and they just sit beautifully on the body. The beads are the same red as the dress and they catch the light with your slightest movement and from every angle. It is just spectacular. Excellent condition

The skirt and front panels if the bodice are lined in a red silk chiffon. It closes as described above. Original beaded sash tie belt. 

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: no true side seams
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam and you can cinch in further with the belt
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem with just over 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4467

Reference Photos: (1-2) Resort 1980 Halston Collection. Model Carla Araque.  /  (3)  Halston with models, December 1981. From the book "Halston: An American Original".

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