Rare c1958-1960 Norman Norell Silk Taffeta "Bubble" Dress designer-teal-traina The cut is equally perfect

The cut is equally perfect - a fitted nips in at the waist with the skirt set in a series of flat pleats around the waist

a common practice at the time

It closes down the front with a tightly spaced row of round domed buttons

The three of them would often go antique hunting and on one such foray Zandra found a shell covered wicker basket and it is from this little object that her entire 1972-73 "Shell" collection was born

It is lined in black silk that is still sound

Rare c1958-1960 Norman Norell Silk Taffeta "Bubble" Dress designer-teal-traina The cut is equally perfectNormal Norell begain his career working for Hattie Carnegie and then in 1941 partnered with Anthony Traina and his work from then until 1958 appears under the Traina Norell label. Between 1958 and up to 1960 items appeared under his name only and then in 1960 he officially launched his own label. This dress is an early example of his work from this time period. He was a master tailor and his earlier work explores shape and volume. In February 1958,