1960s Sarmi of New York Silk Chiffon and Beaded Dress

A stunning 1960s couture made pleated silk chiffon ballerina style cocktail dress by Sarmi of New York. This utterly magical dress is set off beautifully with an empire line bust in crystal, bugle beads and diamante beadwork. The pleating of the chiffon is very delicate and skilled work giving the dress an extremely elegant line. It would make an incredible wedding dress or a perfect party dress you could dance in. The silk chiffon is a blend of cream and pale powder pink while the empire line segment is a darker, more shell pink. The embellishment is in whites and pinks though the pink stones are set onto dark metal clawback settings making them stand out against the paler hues. The neckline is Grecian in style with a high draped look that leads down the back via pleated straps.

The dress is in very good vintage condition. Some beads are missing though these are not noticeable when worn. The dress fastens at the back with a concealed zip, hook and eyes as well as an overlay layer of poppers to ensure the back of the dress is supremely neat. The label reads Sarmi New York. The dress has very petite measurements and was photographed flat as it could not be done up on a mannequin. In our estimation, a best fit for a UK 4 or US 0.

MEASUREMENTS
Bust - 30 in. (76.2 cm)
Waist - 23 in. (58.4 cm)
Hip - 30 in. (76.2 cm)
Length - 52.5 in. (133.3 cm)
Shoulders - FREE

SARMI
Fernando Sarmi was an Italian fashion designer whose career started with costume design in Italy. He left Italy in 1951 to work in New York, becoming head designer for Elizabeth Arden. He went on to open his own high quality ready-to-wear salon in New York under the label Sarmi. In 1960, he won a Coty Award and went on to gain a reputation as a top designer attracting clients who were celebrities, New York socialites and foreign dignitaries. His talents for opulent evening looks and use of extravagant fabrics such as swansdown made his designs stand out.He produced both haute couture and ready-to-wear clothing with intricate embroideries, vivid colors, and racy hemlines as well as hand-silkscreened silks and the first-ever tie-dyed silk chiffons.