Gorgeous 1960s James Galanos Meticulously Pleated Black Silk Chiffon Dress w Elaborate Belt designer-estevez The label on this dress

The label on this dress gives us a date range of 1953 to 1966 and I suspect this piece was designed somewhere during the turn of 1960

One small mark on the back near the hem

but the fabric is actually a light weight silk georgette

I think at this point in time everyone pretty much recognizes certain Celine pieces from the Phoebe Philo days and this fringed black dress is one of those iconic looks

Gorgeous 1960s James Galanos Meticulously Pleated Black Silk Chiffon Dress w Elaborate Belt designer-estevez The label on this dressThis is a spectacular example of Galanos and the evening dresses that he did so very well. James Galanos launched Galanos Originals in 1951. He was only 27 years old. By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready to wear for that time period. When you covert to modern dollars the top end figure would be about $31,000 today.