Jumpsuit

Norma Kamali launched her "OMO," or "On My Own" clothing line in 1978, ten years after opening her first boutique in 1968. The line signified Kamali’s personal and professional independence and her aim to design a real-life wardrobe for modern women. This jumpsuit, an iteration of her famous nylon parachute designs of the late 1970s, combines the ease and informality of sportswear with the exaggeration and glamour of evening dress. Layers of draped and gathered fabric broaden the shoulder and hip and reflect Kamali’s interest in the features of classical dress and the overtly feminine silhouettes of the 1930s. While the draped shapes of the early parachute designs were created by drawn and tied cords, the swags here are stitched in place at the waist, arm, and shoulder seams.