This is a vintage 1950s cocktail dress designed by Herbert Kasper for Arnold and Fox - please read more about Kasper further down this page.   This 1950s cocktail dress has a Grecian look to it, sleeveless with a bateau or boat neckline that is beaded along its top edge, continuing down around its arm openings and deep scoop back.  This 1950s cocktail dress is semi-transparent above the bust, and has a defined waistline with draped skirt that has a balloon or bubble hemline, very chic during the 50s.  The waist is defined and there are loops for a belt, but no belt is supplied.  This 1950s cocktail dress does up with a metal zipper at the back.  The chiffon is in a cream white tone and is applied over an acetate taffeta base.

Label: Kasper of Arnold-Fox.  Herbert Kasper (1926-2020) served during WWII and attended the Parsons School of Design in New York after the war.  He subsequently worked in Paris at Jacques Fath, Christian Dior and Marcel Rochas, returning to New York and designing for Arnold and Fox from 1954 until 1964, at which time he joined Joan Leslie of New York.  He won the Coty American Fashion Critics award in 1955, 1970 and 1976.  As an aside, Kasper created a tulle dress that was used in a Marilyn Monroe photo titled “Ballerina Sitting”, while he was at Arnold and Fox.  That photo dates to 1954 and was named by Time magazine as one of the top three photos of the 20th century.

Sizing: No size is indicated on this 1950s cocktail dress, but the dress should fit a small size - please rely on the following measurements for fit:

 Shoulders:  14 1/2” across the top

Bust:  33”-34” around

Waist: 24”-25” around

Hips:  42” around, meant to fall loosely in drapes

Length:  40” measured flat from the top of the shoulder straps to the hemline

Condition:  This 1950s cocktail dress is in very good condition with no pronounced wear, tear or staining - this has been well kept over the years. 

This is a beautiful vintage 1950s cocktail dress - Herbert Kasper was a well regarded American fashion designer and this 1950s cocktail dress is a nice example of his design work!