Bill Blass Black Wool Crepe Dress

Very heavy black, short wool crepe sleeveless late afternoon or evening dress with attached beaded belt.

- neckline to hem continuous fabric units
- wide shallow scooped neckline
- sleeveless
- Semi fitted bodice from shoulder to high hip similar to dropped waist styling but no drop waistline seam
- Front bodice - center front seam and princess seams from shoulder to drop waist area
- Back bodice - center back seam with hand picked zipper final stitching; princess seams from shoulder to drop waist area
- Skirt or lower section of dress: long (18" long) and wide godets (~12" at hem) extend from front and back center seams and from front and back princess seams in bodice giving moderate fullness to otherwise tailored dress
- fabric is very, very heavy wool crepe
- upper part of dress or bodice lined in black silk satin
- Belt trim - attached to dress; Black jet beaded belt (1/4" diameter) caught by square 5/8" pave jeweled buttons at center front and back princess seams at point where godets flare from bodice or upper area of dress; 2.25" beaded tassel on each end of the belt.

HCT.1985.280.2

1959-1967

This dress was worn by Jane Linn Gale. Jane was the daughter of Milman Linn, Sr. who was the president of the Zanesville Stoneware Company. Jane was born in Zanesville in 1910 and would go on to attend the Columbus School for Girls as well as Ohio State University. After her formal education, she attended Berea College, Berea, Ky., to study handweaving, and taught the craft at the Zanesville Art Institute when it was located on Adair Avenue.

Bill Blass

1960-1969