Born in 1938 in New York City, Mary McFadden was educated at the Sorbonne and Columbia before becoming the director of public relations at Dior and a merchandising editor and freelancer at Vogue. Inspired by the art and culture of ancient civilizations, she turned to designing romantic and inventive haute couture in the mid-1970s. She created more than 100 distinctive collections and is frequently referred to as a “design archeologist.”
Shown above is a white pleated silk gown with Fortuny-style pleating and an embroidered waist panel embellished with various beads and sequins. Visit 1stdibs for more information.