IT GETS BETTER

Last night at the CFDA Awards, stunning actress and activist Olivia Wilde made her first red carpet appearance since giving birth in a vintage Mollie Parnis dress from Decades.  The dress has amazing provenance. It was worn by Anjelica Huston in 1974 to the Cannes Awards when she attended with Jack Nicholson. This is a reminder that vintage gets better with time. Forty years later, Wilde made this quintessential one shoulder fringed dress look thoroughly modern and made Decades proud.

 
   

11TH HOUR JUNE BRIDE

Are you having a shotgun wedding? Eloping to Vegas? Seeing the Justice of Peace? Or, are you getting married in a year and haven't found the perfect wedding dress, but pine for something vintage? Actually you don't have to be getting married today, tomorrow, or in a decade to fall in love with this Mollie Parnis from 1965. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to be getting married, as this cream silk satin slip dress with elaborate net crystal embroidered "strass" blouse is very wearable in many ways. From the amazing attitude in this editorial photo from Bazaar's October 1965 issue, this is a very non chalant formal look with the hands in the pockets and relaxed character of the model. Of course the overlay blouse is incredibly decadent and I would love it worn with a tank top and a ciggie jean, as an alternative to the lovely illusion spaghetti strap under dress which is gathered at the waist. I would thrilled to see someone get married in this, but this is far from being the exclusive domain of the blushing bride. Rather, just like the model in the editorial, it is for someone who is terribly chic without trying...and gets invited to good soirees!

Mollie Parnis cream silk evening gown with strass overlay, 1965. Modern narrow size 4

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or todd@dtwo1.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 Melrose Avenue at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLIE

Mollie Parnis began her namesake business with her husband Leon Livingstone in the middle of Depression in the early 1930s. Without any formal design training or an ability to cut or sketch, this self-taught designer maintained a philosophy of providing her clients with versatile and timeless dresses that were comfortable and in good fabrics and never trendy. She was a great success. That may explain why this 1960s-era Mollie Parnis of green fine gabardine with a wonderful black undertone is perfectly modern in the 21st Century. The cap sleeve tunic dress is a little "Mod" but current in cut. The coordinating coat with unexpected stripe lining is straight out of Camelot (many of the Kennedys wore Mollie Parnis, as did Mamie Eisenhower and Betty Ford) and could be worn by a First Lady of yesteryear or by First Lay Michelle Obama today. We love "lady like" fashions and sometimes looking stylish, modern, and appropriate is best done without too many distractions, but a great dress and coat in a terrific shade of green.

Mollie Parnis for Saks Fifth Avenue green coat and mod shift dress, c. 1960s. Modern 4 to 6 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.