unlabelled, comprising: a stretch jersey long-sleeved polo neck mini dress, bust 97cm 38in; a pair of matching tights printed in shades of green with peacock plume repeats; a replica headdress covered in real peacock plumes, with additional loose peacock feathers; and a pair of modern blue basket-weave pumps (qty)
In 1966 Peggy, Rudi and Bill Claxton collaborated to produce the first ever fashion video ‘BASIC BLACK’, which featured Gernreich’s Fall 1966 collection.
Literature: 'The Rudi Gernreich Book' Peggy Moffitt & William Claxton photograph by William Claxton p 123. Bill Claxton recalled
'After Peggy and I came back from Europe, I was approached by a producer of television commercials who wanted a film so he could show examples of my work - a sample reel, so to speak. I decided to combine the things I knew best - Rudi's clothes and my photography. Peggy and I wrote a shooting outline for what we considered an abstract fashion film. The next weekend, we rented a studio in New York, and with Peggy, Leon Bing and Ellen Harth, completed the project in two days. Rudi often showed the film as part of the shows he took to South America and the Orient...I consider it the first film where clothes spoke for themselves, without a commentary.'
See The Metropolitan Museum collection for an identical printed jersey dress, 1985.374.35a, b
Rudi Gernreich was presented with his 2nd Coty Award for this collection.
A recording of 'BASIC BLACK' can be viewed here.
1960s