This beautiful and intricately beaded gown was created by the designer Nolan Miller. We don’t mention Miller here often at Recycled Movie Costumes, but his career helped to shape the look of 80s fashion.

Since childhood, Miller had dreamed of being a costume designer, but he came onto the Hollywood scene when studios were starting to phase out their costume departments.

However, Miller’s break came when he was working in a floral shop in Beverly Hills, where he met Aaron Spelling, who hired Miller to work on his productions, including Burke’s Law, Charlie’s Angels, and most famously, Dynasty.

From 1983 to 1987, Miller was nominated six times for an Emmy Award for Best Costume Design. He was nominated four times for Dynasty, winning in 1984.

In addition to working on Aaron’s shows, Nolan was a private couturier with clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, and Sophia Loren. Whether a private client or an actress getting a fitting for a TV show, the fitting for each costume was all done at Nolan’s shop in Beverly Hills.

Although Spelling owned the costumes created for his shows, Nolan was allowed free access to them and was eventually given back full ownership. This helps to explain the varied life of this beautiful beaded piece that was used for television as well as multiple private events.

The first time the gown was seen was on Linda Evans at the 1982 Golden Globe Awards. She would wear the piece that same year on the television show Dynasty in the episode The Party.

Sleeves were added to the gown when Linda wore the piece to the 1983 Golden Globe Awards before wearing it again in the Dynasty opening sequence, as well as several promotional photo shoots for the show.

In 1985, the dress appeared in another Aaron Spelling production, The Love Boat, where it was worn by none other than  Lana Turner as Elizabeth Raley.

The piece was worn three times in 1986, first by Kate O’Mara as Caress Morell in her opening title sequence on Dynasty, then by Katharine Ross as Francesca Colby in the Dynasty spinoff The Colbys, as well as by Ann Margret for George Burns’ 90th Birthday.

In 1988, the dress appeared at the Nolan Miller Dynasty Fashion Show and was worn by Anne Rogers, who sang as part of the evening’s entertainment. She was most likely gifted the gown by Miller, and he supposedly told her that he had created it for Lana Turner. She was not aware of its full history.

The piece was purchased by Nolan Miller Collector directly from Rogers, and it has gone on to be showcased in several exhibits. Doll Dream Closet even created a doll-sized version!

To learn more about this dress and see more incredible Nolan Miller-designed clothing, visit Nolan Miller Collector.