Ensemble
Bill Blass began his New York fashion career in 1946 working for Maurice Rentner where he gained notoriety for his elegant womenswear. In 1970 Blass purchased the company and renamed it Bill Blass Limited which he expanded to include numerous licenses, ranging from perfume and luggage to car models. Blass's legacy is that of impeccable and wearable sportswear for men and women, commonly utilizing camel hair and cashmere as seen here. This ensemble characterizes the American style for which Blass is remembered. The imitation bone buttons provide a twist on the classic blazer while picking up the color of the pants.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ensemble
- Design House: Bill Blass Ltd. (American, founded 1970)
- Designer: Bill Blass (American, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1922–2002 New Preston, Connecticut)
- Date: 1975
- Culture: American
- Medium: cotton, wool, silk
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Bill Blass Ltd., 1976
- Object Number: 2009.300.976a–f
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.