Texas Fashion Collection

This charming 1930s cropped jacket or bolero features all-over clusters of sequins creating dimensional floral motifs. While they look random, their symmetry across the center front suggests their intentional design and placement.

Image 1: Detail of dimensional sequins creating multicolored floral motifs in rainbow colors on a black bolero, shown on a dark brown mannequin and white background

Image 2: Side view of a cropped black bolero with all-over floral multicolored sequins, shown with a black dress on a brown mannequin and white background

Custom created by Markwell Clothiers, this early 1970s dress is maxi in length and maximalist in styling! The dense brocade offers a visually dense, abstract pattern in burgundy, reds, and silver and gold-tone lurex. To gild the lily, the dressmakers embellished the that ornate fabric with hand-beaded orange flowers and prong-set stones.

Image 1: Detail of the bodice of a red, burgundy, and metallic brocade dress with a high collar, long sleeves, natural waist, and orange beading making floral motifs

Image 2: Front ¾ view of a maxi dress in warm and metallic tones, shown on a brown mannequin and white background

This recently donated dress is easily identifiable as a Bob Mackie design, featuring his signature beads and sequins, a figure-hugging silhouette, and a sense of theatricality. Luckily celebrity reporters made narrowing down additional details easy, as a similar design was recently sported by Sabrina Carpenter! We love welcoming this Spring 1986 “Swamp Dress” to our permanent collection!

Image 1: Detail of the bodice of a dress with all-over sequins in iridescent black, teal, and pink creating the illusion of boning, with bright pink lining in the background

Image 2: Bob Mackie designer label on pink lining fabric with iridescent beads and sequins in rows and creating fringe

Image 3: Cocktail dress of black fabric with all-over black and cool-toned sequins creating the illusion of a corset and shawl draped over the hips and legs, with beaded fringe at the sleeves and hem, shown on a white mannequin and white background

Image 4: Singer Sabrina Carpenter wearing a black and cool-toned sequin dress, posing at a red carpet event