I don't believe that I've talked about the fashion-side of this in much detail, but I love fabric, and textiles in general. I have a weakness for intricate detail - whether that be in the form of lace, or beading, unique textures, or embroidery.
This is probably why when I go shopping in antique shops I am constantly drawn to those 1980s beaded dresses that (if you are one who thrifts regularly like I am) you would notice show up more than occasionally. They're often-times made of silk. If you are ever looking for a beaded dress, stop into a thrift store. You may be surprised.
I wanted to share this particular one that I found (albeit, it was at an antique store-not a thrift shop). This dress is by a brand called Richilene, which was a brand that did beautiful party dresses - The dresses ranged in price from $500-$2,000 in 1986. I'm not sure when this particular dress is from, but it seems a bit older than the ones I usually see - I want to say that its from the late 1970s to early 1980s if I had to hazard a guess.
Unfortunately, this dress is way too small for me to add to my ever-growing collection, but it is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop. That listing can be found here if you'd like to see more details. It fits like a size 2 or 4.
Here is the full dress- The tulip skirt has an architectural drape that's really flattering and the fabric is flowy. The top portion is my favorite part, though. Embroidery, beading, sequins, and weaved fabric with metallic threading on silk - It reminds me of a fairytale forest.
Here's a closeup of the bodice. I've seen a lot of detailed textiles and this is the best one I've ever come across in person. The colors are so vibrant and it shimmers so nicely when the light hits it!
The dress was too small on my mannequin, so I didn't try to zip it up all the way, but the back is just as detailed as the front. There are also concealed zippers at the wrists so that it fits close to the wrists when worn.
Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this post - I should (and will) start posting more about vintage fashion, and fashion in general because it is a passion of mine. One of these days I may make a post where I show my own personal collection of vintage dresses. Stay tuned if you'd like to see that someday.