{"product_id":"exquisite-gustave-tassell","title":"Exquisite Late 1950's Gustave Tassell Black Silk Taffeta Couture Cocktail Dress \/ S","description":"\u003cp\u003e👋 A B O U T\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptionally rare late 50's\/ early 1960's couture cocktail dress by renowned mid century designer Gustave Tassell. Composed in black silk taffeta, with a rounded boat neckline, elbow-length sleeves, and a gathered bodice above a two-tiered, built in crinoline-supported skirt with bell-like fullness. A black velvet bow sash cinches at the waist, and the back closes with the original metal zipper beneath a trio of covered buttons. Labeled \"Gustave Tassell\" with the house's floral motif. In excellent condition, freshly dry cleaned and ready to wear. Pieces from Tassell are exceedingly rare and typically housed in museum collections. An exceptional piece of American mid century custom couture. In excellent, near mint condition. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e*I photographed this dress twice- with different necklaces and different lighting. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAbout the designer: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\"Gustave Tassell (1926–2014) was an American fashion designer born in Philadelphia and trained as a painter at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His path into fashion began at Hattie Carnegie's advertising and display department in the 1940s, and in 1952 he moved to Paris, sketching for couture houses including Geneviève Fath's. Encouraged by his contemporary James Galanos, Tassell moved to Los Angeles in 1956 to launch his own label, becoming part of the city's serious mid-century ready-to-wear scene alongside Galanos and other coast designers. He won the Coty American Fashion Critics' Award in 1961, and his streamlined dresses for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' 1962 goodwill tour of India remain his most famous work; Princess Grace of Monaco was another notable client. When Norman Norell died in 1972, Tassell moved to New York to run Norell's house until 1976, then returned to his own California label. His aesthetic held remarkably steady across five decades: forward-looking clothes in natural fibers for confident, unshowy women, with silhouette shaped through buttoning, seaming, and tucking rather than surface ornament — a quiet, architectural elegance closer in spirit to Norell than to the more theatrical Galanos. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✂️ M E A S U R E M E N T S\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBust: up to 34\" \/ shoulder to waist\" 14.5\u003cbr\u003ewaist: up to 26\"\u003cbr\u003eHips: open\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal length: 42\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFits a small\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLabel: Gustave Tassell\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: silk taffeta, netting \u003cbr\u003eCondition: I might dare to say mint condition? but to be safe I'll add minor signs of wear typical of age. Freshly dry cleaned and ready to wear. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll of our pieces are thoroughly inspected and repaired by our in house professional seamstress prior to shipping to ensure your garment is in ready to wear condition upon arrival. We ship our items out on Thursdays. Please allow extra time for wedding dresses and large orders. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*Please compare measurements to a garment you currently own to ensure proper fit! Please note: most of our pieces are clipped to fit our dress forms (bust: 34\" waist: 23\")\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e💖 F O L L O W\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003efacebook | xtabay vintage clothing boutique \u003cbr\u003einstagram | xtabayvintage\u003cbr\u003epinterest | xtabay \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Xtabay Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47375198519457,"sku":null,"price":748.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0472\/0885\/7761\/files\/CB5D8404-B0DE-4533-A22E-189C44DC5AFF.jpg?v=1789397710","url":"https:\/\/shopxtabay.com\/products\/exquisite-gustave-tassell","provider":"Xtabay Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}