60s Gold Brocade Evening Set Wedding Guest Women's Blouse Skirt Vintage Medium Nelly de Grab VFG
Chic and elegant 1960s vintage eveningwear, from a high end designer known for her separates! Use the top with pants, or pair the skirt with a sleek tank - or wear both together for maximum impact! The cropped sleeveless top is classically 60s, styled with a rounded neckline perfect for showing off a statement necklace It is fitted with diagonal darts but stands away from the lower ribcage. The long A-line skirt has similarly angled darts below the waist. I love the tucked side seam pleats.
SIZE: Labeled size 12
Measurements | Inches | Cm |
Blouse: Bust | 38" | 96.5 |
Blouse: Waist | 32" | 80.5 |
Blouse: Length from shoulder seam | 17.5" | 44.5 |
Skirt: Waist | 27" | 68.5 |
Skirt: Hips | 54" | 137 |
Skirt: Sweep | 73" | 186 |
Skirt: Length | 41" | 104 |
FABRIC/COLORS: A luxurious metallic brocade. I love the spare sophisticated design with narrow tendrils of metallic against the pale gold satiny background. The fiber burn test suggests a rayon/acetate blend.
TAGS: Nelly de Grab, New York. The top has an additional tag for the store where it was sold - Julius Garfinkel & Co., Washington. Garfinkel's was a well known luxury goods department store in DC for many decades.
CLOSURES: The top closes with six self fabric covered buttons in back. The skirt has a short side seam metal zipper.
CONDITION: I have hand stitched a small section of waistband seam that had come open. There is a tiny tannish discoloration just below the waistband in back - see closeup. The outfit will present best after a trip to a good dry cleaner - unfortunately, I do not have anyone in my community I can trust.
Nelly De Grab and her family emigrated to the US after fleeing Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939. She had natural style, and started designing and selling softly pleated cotton skirts in interesting prints. Her first sale was to Peck & Peck. She became known for mix and match separates, and extended that aethetic to eveningwear using luxury fabrics like velvet and brocade. She continued as an active designer until her death in 1972, when Lowell Judson took on that role. The company continued until at least 1976.
I measure the outside of garments, unless stated otherwise.
For menswear, the chest is measured at armpit level.
For womenswear, the bust is measured a little below armpit level, including the room created by darts or gathers.
Waist will be measured if there is one, and hips are measured about 9" below waist level. Sleeves are measured from shoulder seam or an approximation in the absence of a shoulder seam. Garment length is measured from the back of the neck, unless otherwise stated.
The measurement numbers refer to the garment, not the body inside. For best fit, measure a similar type of garment which fits you well and compare.
If the garment is shown on Josephine, my mannequin, her measurements are 31/24.5/34". Sometimes she wears a padded bra. My live models measurements vary depending on the day and year, and I don't ask them to share that.