DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Decades opened in 1997, about 20 years after this Geoffrey Beene dress was designed. We have learned a lot in the past 13 years and one thing we always realize when looking at a proposed garment to purchase for the store simply hanging on a hanger is when it's on the body, it's an entirely different story. Case in point, this Beene! On a hanger, it looks like a crinkled orange potato sack as its shape is undefined...but....put this textured silk dress with wide floral print insert, decorative trim piping and lilac lace hem...and voila, the wide obi sash gives this dress a suddenly sophisticated silhouette. The caped short sleeves show off toned arms and the gathers of the skirt give this dress a very feminine shape in a functional (hey, it's wrinkle free) fabric that is perfect for travel and a multitude of occasions. Slightly reminiscent of Koos van den Akker's signature collage designs, this Beene has a playful quality and is seasonless but seems particularly perfect for right now as we head into spring, literally, as today is Daylight Saving's Time. Spring Forward!

Geoffrey Beene orange crinkle dress with floral panel insert, metallic trim, and lace hem, c. late 1970s. Flexible sizing from 2 to 6. Label removed SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

POPPY TALK

So it's Oscars weekend. The Los Angeles skies are overcast and rain is a 'comin. We say the ultimate way to watch the Oscars is avoid the red carpet and stay home, invite a few friends over, and throw on this ultra chic Geoffrey Beene. This Beene has a great poppy print on lurex stitched trapunto quilted cotton with cut out short sleeves featuring beaded poppies. The obi sash belt can be wrapped twice as we have shown or worn less restricted and long...or wear it sans sash in an homage to a djellaba. They used to call a dress like this a "hostess gown", but we think it deserves a "sexier" description. This Beene is for a woman who doesn't want comfort to sacrifice style. She doesn't need to be a hostess. Rather, she is likely a CEO and Style Icon who entertains effortlessly and adores the late and great Mr. Beene. Perhaps, it's comfort Couture?

Geoffrey Beene poppy print cut out sleeve obi sash evening dress, c. early 1980s. Modern 4 to 8 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

ULTIMATE HOODIE

Who doesn't love a hoodie? Ironically, one never uses the hood of a hoodie, but the look of a hoodie is so sporty chic that you automatically have the illusion of being a jockette, just by having a hood coming down your back. Well, hoodie lovers UNITE! This is the hoodie to end all hoodies. This will take the juice out of your Juicys. A Geoffrey Beene silver lurex full length hoodie (and this hood is super sized) that has wide old Hollywood glam silver fox cuffs. We've shown it over an Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture steel strapless column gown, but this is terribly chic over a cashmere turtle neck and tailored pants, too. Having a beach party? Leave the terry robe in the bathroom and throw this on top of your barest Eres maillot. Expecting "company"? Greet your guest wearing this over a Kiki di Montparnasse next-to-nothin' teddy and we guarantee a fun night. Whether you wear this over a gown, over something tailored or over nothing, we think this hoodie demands attention!

Geoffrey Beene ultimate hoodie in lurex with silver fox glamour cuffs, c. 1970s. No size
SOLD

Belt sold seperately SOLD
For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Beene Mosaic

From the mind of Geoffrey Beene we bring you this silk satin mosaic print dress with wrap. The dress has an empire waist and is trimmed with a dark blue grosgrain ribbon. Just under the center of the bust is a bow detail that snaps off when getting in and out of the garment. The dress comes with a large square shawl cut from the same cloth as the dress and lined with the same ribbon. The mosaic print on the dress has a floral motif, making this a fabulous choice for a spring garden party.

Geoffrey Beene silk floral motif mosaic dress, c.1960s. Contemporary size 2-small 4 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

THE FUTURE IS NOW

A few months ago, Decades hosted the Los Angeles book launch for our friend Kim Hastreiter's new book on Geoffrey Beene. Looking through this marvelous book has inspired us to bring more Beene to the Blog. Well, we've Beene there and now we done it and the future is now. This silver pailette and black crepe sexy strapless Beene mini is a sculptural dress that beautifully showcases one's curves as the silver pailettes seductively play off the black crepe to dramatic success. The contrast between shiny silver and basic black is a wonderful futuristic combo that is the ultimate LBD for the 21st Century.

Geoffrey Beene silver pailette and black crepe mini, c. late 1980s. Modern size 6 SOLD
For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

IF YOU WERE IN LA

If you were in LA today, you would enjoy our Geoffrey Beene window featuring the divine grey flannel 1960s Beene maxi gown paying homage to Beene's signature fragrance "Grey Flannel." Check out the grey flannel back drop, too. It's quite a Beene moment!

DID YOU VOTE?

The polls are closing on the East Coast, but we still have five more hours of voting here in Los Angeles. If you haven't voted, don't shop! First vote, then shop! And in honor of Election Day, we have selected a classic American 60s design in grey flannel by Geoffrey Beene.

Last night, we celebrated the release of Kim Hastreiter's book on Geoffrey Beene (published by Assouline) here at Decades in Los Angeles. Many of our clients wore their favorite vintage Beene dresses and be sure to check the Paper Magazine party pictures here to see the group that joined us. Now back to this Beene. A mock turtleneck flared gown of grey wool flannel is beautifully juxtaposed with Swarovski crystal rhinestones spanning two rows down the dress and at it's hem. We have had variations of this seminal Beene design but usually in cocktail length. This dress is full on maxi and carries a ton of moxie. "Grey Flannel" is also the name of Mr. Beene's famous men's cologne. It was a preferred fabric of Geoffrey Beene and this dress shows beautifully how one can take a traditional masculine fabric and make it into a wonderful feminine gown. What a perfect gown to to wear in Washington D.C. for the Inauguration Gala - it will keep you warm!

Geoffrey Beene grey flannel maxi gown with Swarovski rhinestone trim, c 1960s. Modern 6 to 8 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Geoffrey Beene Book

Decades is thrilled to announce that a dear friend of the store Kim Hastreiter has written an amazing book on Geoffrey Beene. For a limited time only, we are offering personally signed copies by the author. The book is $40 + tax (CA only) and shipping. To receive a signed copy we need to have the order by Monday, November 3rd. To order your signed copy of the book please contact us at
(323)655-0223 or via email, info@decadesinc.com

the 80's never looked so GOOD.

From two great designers, (one American, one French) two very different dresses from the same decade. The green dress was designed by Geoffrey Beene and is a dark emerald, almost forest green color. One might be deceived into thinking it to be a wrap dress, but they would be wrong. It is a tie dress, the panels are sewn in place and the ties serve as a built in front belt. The back of the dress has an elastic strip running horizontally across the waist. This is an extremely architectural and well designed piece.

The second little ditty in this post is by Loris Azzaro. It is a black silk cocktail dress with a pleated V neck top. The bottom of the dress is the same black viscose material with two pleated pocket covers. The back of the dress has a key hole opening and a full vertically pleated top. This is the perfect little black dress for any holiday party you might be attending this coming season.

Geoffrey Beene emerald/forest green wool cocktail dress, c.1980's. Marked size 6. Contemporary size 4-6.

Loris Azzaro little black viscose pleated cocktail dress, c.1980's. Contemporary size 6. SOLD!

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Slip into Summer

The best way to fashionable yet comfortable in the summer heat is with a light and chic slip dress. This Geoffrey Beene dress is a cream slip, covered by a rose garden motif lace of black and copper metallic thread. There are scalloped details at the bottom of both pieces and the two are joined at the top by the same detailing. It could not get much easier than this, just throw on an oversized straw hat, a pair of metallic wedges, this dress and walk out the back door of your Hamptons estate.

Geoffrey Beene classic slip dress with metallic lace, c. 1980's. Marked size 6, contemporary size 4-6. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

SPRING IN YOUR STEP

When it comes to spring, we have you covered...literally. Below please find four delicious dresses that are perfect as we transition from winter to spring. The dresses below represent a great mix of design talents: from Chloe by Karl Lagerfeld, Malcolm Starr, James Galanos, and Geoffrey Beene. There is something for everyone so put some spring into your step and let Decades cover you up appropriately as the sun shines from above and al fresco becomes a reality!



Chloe by Karl Lagerfeld butter yellow drop waist long sleeve silk dress with clear crystal trim and cooridnating slip, c 60s. Modern size 4 to 6 SOLD



Malcolm Starr yellow long sleeve dress with silver beaded stripes and concealed hip pockets, c 60s. Rayon, wool, silk blend, deadstock labeled size 14, contemporary 8 to 10. SOLD



James Galanos spaghetti strap cocktail dress in navy blue polka-dot lurex silk with velvet textured panels, c 1960s. Modern size 4

Geoffrey Beene floral print hippie silk dress with puffy sleeves and cummerbund, c 60s. Modern size 4 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call (323) 655-0223. Please reference the description above. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.