60s Beaded Evening Gown by Helen Rose
Hollywood costume designer and academy award winner Helen Rose may be best know for having designed the wedding gown worn by Grace Kelly.
Her elegant and classic designs were seen in movies such as Designing Women with Lauren Bacall (1956) and sold in exclusive stores and designer salons across the country. Her first job was as a designer for the Ice Capades. She worked at MGM studios for 35 years beginning in 1943 where she designed for Kelly and Bacall as well as Elizabeth Taylor, Esther Williams and many other great stars.
This gown is typical of her later designs from 1967 through 1970 when she concentrated on flowing, feminine designs complementing the female form. Featuring a heavily hand beaded bodice which is accented with prong set rhinestones, pearls and sequins. Layers of flowing pleated chiffon float like a dream over a lining of matching blue silk.
The condition is very good though there is an area of fading on the front of the skirt. This tends to look like a play of light on the fabric and may be able to be re dyed by a competent dry cleaner. There is also some bead/rhinestone loss on the shoulder which could be restored with beads/stones from the underarm areas. A few small picks on the chiffon are noticeable only on close inspection. Still a wonderful example of the work of Helen Rose.
