1960s Bonnie Cashin "Beatnik" Wool Dress

The former owner of this dress called it "Bonnie's Beatnik Dress", and after getting it on my mannequin I could see why. Look how cool and unconventional it is, expecially in the early 1960s. Its jet black wool jersey with black leather trim, and a belt attached at the sides that is designed to wrap around the waist several times. The enormous cowl neck can be pulled over the head as a hood, or can be worn scrunched down the neck. Halston "borrowed" this neck/hood concept a few years later to much acclaim.
The dress is unlined. It has deep side pockets and 14" slits up the sides.