This black cocktail dress was worn by legendary actress Gloria Swanson. The short sleeve knee length dress with sheer floating panels was designed by Scaasi. The garment is in excellent condition and has the original designer’s label sewn inside.
The item was originally acquired directly from Swanson’s estate and sold at auction by Doyle Galleries of New York in 1983. Gloria Swanson was one of the most prominent stars of the silent film era and was nominated for the first ever Academy Award in the Best Actress category. She successfully transitioned into “talkies” in 1929 with the film “The Trespasser” and later became best known for her role as “Norma Desmond” in the critically acclaimed film “Sunset Boulevard”. Apart from her fame as a film star, Swanson was also fashion icon of her era noted for wearing distinctive couture designs such as this Scaasi dress.
Scaasi (nee Arnold Isaacs) was a favorite designer of Presidential First Ladies and members of Hollywood’s elite, and created original garments for clients ranging from Mamie Eisenhower and Laura Bush to Joan Crawford and Lauren Bacall. In 1996 he was presented with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the years, major retrospectives of his work have been presented at various venues, including Kent State University, Ohio State University, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the New-York Historical Society. The inaugural gown he designed for Barbara Bush is on display in the Smithsonian Institution.
Accompanied by a letter of authenticity.
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