Description
This late 1960s or early 70s navy blue and white polka dot minidress by Bob Bugnand for Sam Friedlander features a scoop-neck bodice held up by skinny shoulder straps, bust darts for shaping, a fitted waist seam, and a full, flared mini skirt. The dress has a wide section of romantic, cream-colored guipure lace with navy velvet ribbon threaded through it trimming the waist, and a narrower band of lace finishing the hem. The waist seam sits just slightly above the natural waist—see measurements. The upper bodice and upper back of the dress are self-lined (2 layers of dotted fabric). The lower bodice, waist, and skirt sections are unlined, with just a single layer of fabric. The minidress is fastened with a nylon zipper at center back. The navy and white polka dot fabric is a crisp, smooth, mid-weight cotton and polyester blend, that looks and feels a lot like cotton.
The only issue to note with this adorable late 1960s-70s mini dress is some discoloration to the lace trim around the hem (possibly from age and/or improper storage, since the dress appears hardly worn, if at all). Because the discoloration to the lace trim is around the hem, it makes it a bit harder to notice than it otherwise would be—thankfully! The dress has been freshly dry-cleaned. Because of the lace and velvet trim, I recommend dry-cleaning in future.
Bob Bugnand (born Antoine Bugnand) was a French designer, born in 1924. He began his career in fashion working under and learning from Jacques Heim and Robert Piquet in Paris. In the 1950s he opened his own couture shop in Paris. In 1957, he opened a 2nd couture shop in New York City. Bugnand’s couture clothing was popular with high society ladies in both Europe and the United States, among them First Lady Jackie Kennedy, Wallis Simpson, and Babe Paley, to name just a few of his more famous clients.
In 1962, Bob Bugnand partnered with Sam Friedlander, a wholesale women’s clothier in the US. This allowed Bugnand to expand production of his designs, into ready-to-wear cocktail and evening wear at a “more moderate” price. These "Bob Bugnand for Sam Friedlander"-labeled RTW pieces sold for around $90 – $375. That’s approximately $650 - $2,700 in today's dollar--still pretty pricey, if not couture-level expensive!
Size: XS.
- Bust: 34 inches flat, to fit up to 32B at max.
- Ribcage: 28 inches flat, measured at velvet ribbon trim.
- Waist (slightly high waist*): 27 inches flat, to fit 26 max.
- Hip: full.
- Sweep or width at skirt hem: 93 inches.
- Length: 35 inches from shoulder to hem in front.
- *Underarm to waist seam length: 7.25 inches.
- Waist to hem: 20.5 inches.
- Label: Bob Bugnand for Sam Friedlander
