A Dorothy Lamour group of gowns by Mr. Blackwell and Lillie Rubin
Four glamorous evening gowns comprising a 2-piece ensemble which includes a vivid red cap-sleeved short top with a plunging neckline and a floral design throughout of red and clear beads, sequins, and faux pearls, with a solid matching skirt with a long slit up the front, both bearing 'Lillie Rubin' and 'Naeem Khan / Riazee / Nights' labels, both size Large; a 3-piece ensemble which includes a light gray V-neck sleeveless shell bearing a 'Mr. Blackwell / Custom' label with a gray long-sleeved sheer overlay with padded shoulders and completely beaded with clear bugle beads, and a matching skirt with similar beading at the bottom and a knee-length slit at the side and an elastic waist, likely size Large; a full-length long-sleeved black silk gown adorned with black and gold sequins and beads in a starburst style, culminating in a mermaid-style bottom of sequined black ruffles, bearing a 'Lillie Rubin' label, size 12; and a pale pink full-length heavily beaded long-sleeved gown with a V-neck, with padded shoulders adorned with sequins and bugle beads of silver, gold, pale pink, and clear in a leaf motif, and a bodice design of more leaves and flowers running the length of the dress and backed by horizontally running bugle beads, with a plunging back and a front skirt slit, likely size Large.
Footnotes:
Dorothy Lamour made her name as the love interest in the Bob Hope/Bing Crosby 'Road' films of the 1940s, often wearing her trademark sarong. She worked tirelessly for the war effort during World War II and was a favorite pinup with the GIs. Up until her death in 1996, she was a staple on the Hollywood social scene and had lost none of her vim and vigor.