This Galanos dress would be hanging in my closet this very moment but merde! alas it does not fit me. I even tried it after skipping lunch... but no luck. It was purchased at Martha's in New York back in the day. Martha's was owned and run by Martha Phillips and her daughter Lynn Manulis. Miss Martha and Miss Lynn as they were called, were also called "the doyennes of haute couture in America". Martha's had its own workroom for alterations and fittings.
Martha opened her first store in the 1930s and her first clients included Marjorie Merriweather Post (who brought in her jewels to be certain the clothes complimented them properly), Doris Duke, Brooke Astor and Gloria Vanderbilt. She eventually moved the store to 58th Street and Park Avenue. Clients would sip tea and nibble on cookies while models showed the clothing. It is a world, as Rhett Butler said to Scarlett O'Hara, that is gone with the wind. (Except for here at RARE vintage of course! Though you are more likely to get champagne and chocolates then tea and cookies.)
The dress is a classic sheath in the most beautiful lace and softly textured fabric - this is certainly couture material that Galanos would have purchased in France. The lace has an illusion of nudity but, ahem, Galanos dressed ladies and this is an only illusion as there is a nude silk lining. It is extremely elegant and extremely sexy at the same time.
Galanos little black dress with lace bodice. Size 4.
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