Oscar de la Renta 1969 Couture Dress

This 1969 Oscar de la Renta black silk taffeta and feather evening dress is an exceptionally rare, early example of the designer’s work. The twin of this dress is preserved in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, donated by Nina Abrams, a prominent art patron who, with her publishing magnate husband Harry N. Abrams, amassed one of the most important collections of 20th-century art. Their legacy of cultural patronage extended beyond fine art into fashion, making this de la Renta gown a reflection of their enduring support for beauty and craftsmanship.

Trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga, de la Renta rose to international prominence in the 1960s as one of the couturiers who dressed Jacqueline Kennedy (Jackie O), soon becoming the designer of choice for New York’s Upper East Side elite. His designs were celebrated for their femininity, dignity, and opulence - always glamorous, never vulgar. Founded in 1965, his eponymous fashion house was still in its infancy when this gown was created, likely selected from the runway and custom-made for a private client.

Crafted in lustrous black silk taffeta, the gown features a vivid candy pink silk taffeta lining with a ruffle hem that flashes with movement - a playful flourish that would become a signature of de la Renta’s work. It has a sensuous V-neckline at both the front and back, both sides decadently trimmed with black sequins, intricate beadwork and a voluminous plumage of black feathers. The sleeves are long, slim and elegantly proportioned. Inside, the gown is lined with black silk at above the bust, giving way to the pink petticoat below this. The gown fastens at the back with a hidden tonal black zip and hook-and-eye clasp.

Feathers became a defining motif throughout de la Renta’s career, reappearing in some of his most iconic creations, from Audrey Hepburn’s voluminous feathered gown at the 1988 CFDA Awards to Sarah Jessica Parker’s feather-smothered tutu-style dress at the Emmys in 2000. This 1969 design stands as a beautiful early embodiment of Oscar de la Renta's enduring glamour.

• Oscar de la Renta 1969 • Taffeta • Evening gown • Long-sleeves • Feather, bead and sequin trim • Candy-pink ruffle lining • Made in France

Fabric: Taffeta, Feathers, Sequin, Beads
Size on Label: No size on label
Stretch: No
Care: Specialist dry clean only
Condition: Excellent condition

Bust: 91.5 cm (36 inch)
Waist: 81.5 cm (32 inch)
Hips: 152.5 cm (60 inch)
Length: 152.5 cm (60 inch)