The Shrimpton Couture Archives

This is perhaps one of the most recognizable dresses that Halston designed over the course of his career. This dress is sometimes dated as being from 1983 because of the photo I have included here of Dina Merrill wearing hers but people forget that these were still the days where you re-wore pieces from your own closet. The twin of this dress is held in several Museum collections including the The Metropolitan museum. 1973 was also the year that Halston won his fifth Coty Award and it was the year of the famous Battle of Versailles, the fashion face-off between a group of American and French designers in Paris. He was on the top of his game and this dress is wonderful example of his work during this time period.

This dress is right up there as one of his most iconic pieces and it is a piece that any Halston collector should have in their collection. I have the twin of this exact dress in my own personal archives. The dress is made from two layers of stretch jersey. There is a solid inner layer and then the top outer layer has the cloud design printed on to it. The top layer is then completely covered in sequins. The sequins have all been placed and attached by hand and completely cover the dress. They are clear with an iridescent finish that reflects back the light beautifully. This makes the dress absolutely incredible to see in person. Halston used this sequin technique predominantly between about 1973 to 1978. Instead of layering and overlapping the sequins, they were laid out flat, side by side, to cover every square inch of the fabric which allowed them to capture and bounce back the maximum amount a of light. The cut is easy and flattering to wear. It skims over the bust to the hips and then flares out slightly as it nears the hem. The neckline is scooped and rounded. The openings for each arm are cut on a curve and this creates the slightest bit of a capped shoulder and sleeve effect. It is amazingly comfortable to wear because of the stretch of the jersey. This is one of his most famous dresses and it could not have more of an impact once it is on.

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1973 Halston Runway.  /  (2) Vogue, September 1973.  /  (3) Dina Merrill at NBC studios, Burbank, California, February 1983. From the book 'Halston' by Phaidon.  /  (4) 1973 Halston Dress from The Met Collection Online.  /  (5) Halston Dress from The Indianapolis Museum of Art.