Halston's Ultrasuede shirtdress sold 60,000 in a season

Halston's move here was subtraction: he took the plainest garment going, a man's shirt, and rebuilt it in a fabric no couturier would touch. Ultrasuede was washable, forgiving and cheap to care for, which is precisely why it read as modern luxury in 1972 rather than as a compromise. The 60,000-a-season shirtdress became the blueprint for relaxed American minimalism, and the fabric went on to line his coats and luggage.

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The post, as it ran

01HALSTON'S ULTRASUEDE SHIRTDRESS SOLD 60,000 IN ONE SEASON.

02FALL 1972. HE CALLED IT MODEL 704.

03THE FABRIC WAS ULTRASUEDE: SYNTHETIC SUEDE YOU COULD MACHINE WASH.

04THE CUT WAS A MAN'S SHIRT, SOFTENED. POINTED COLLAR, BUTTONS AT THE BREASTBONE.

05NO SEAMS TO FUSS OVER, NO DRY CLEANING. THAT WAS THE LUXURY.

06AMERICAN EASE, BOTTLED. VERY HALSTON.

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