A rare and powerful beaded vintage statement jacket by Stephen Burrows for Saks Fifth Avenue, showcasing the designer’s iconic approach to movement, symbolism, and couture-level embellishment.

Crafted in black velvet with intricate hand-beading, the front features an abstract flame motif, rendered in rich red, gold, and metallic tones that appear to rise organically across the body. The artistry continues on the back with a dramatic beaded phoenix motif, symbolizing rebirth and strength—an unmistakable signature of Burrows’ expressive, narrative-driven design language.

Designed to command attention from every angle, this jacket functions as both wearable art and an investment-worthy vintage piece. 

Originally produced for Saks Fifth Avenue, it reflects a time when couture-level designs were created exclusively for luxury department stores, elevating ready-to-wear into collectible fashion history. 

Note: Burrow's Saks exclusives are rarer than his runway pieces and highly collectible solidifying this jacket a museum-level piece of American fashion history - increasingly difficult to find in collectible condition.

Stephen Burrows: One of the most influential American designers of the 1970s and a defining figure of the Studio 54 / Halston-era New York fashion scene. Burrow's designs were worn by cultural icons including Cher, Diana Ross, Bianca Jagger, Grace Jones, and Lauren Hutton, and are held in major museum collections today.

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Details

• Designer: Stephen Burrows. 
• Retailer: Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Label: Dual-labeled Stephen Burrows and Saks Fifth Avenue Park Ave.
• Era: Vintage, circa 1970s.
• Origin: Made in USA.
• Fabric: Black velvet base with fully hand-applied beadwork.
• Color: Black with red, gold, and metallic beadwork. 
  
• Front: hand-beaded flame motif.
• Back: hand-beaded "firebird" Phoenix-wing motif.
• Silhouette: Cropped with open front.
  
• Long sleeves.
• Fully embellished. 
• Sculptural hemline with additional bead fringe at the bottom.
  
• Provenance: Burrows is in museum collections (Met, FIT, Smithsonian). 

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Fit & Sizing

• Best fits: XS–S.
• Measurements on request.

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Condition

• Excellent vintage condition. 
• Velet intact.
• Beading intact and presents beautifully. 
• Age-appropriate wear consistent with careful use.
• No major flaws noted.
• Labels clean and secure.

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Why We Love It

• This is not just a jacket — it’s a piece of American fashion history.
  
• Stephen Burrows pieces, especially with a Saks Fifth Avenue label and in this condition, are increasingly hard to find. 
  
• This jacket captures the spirit of 1970s New York—confident, expressive, and unapologetically bold—while remaining effortlessly wearable today.
• The dual symbolism of flame and phoenix makes this piece especially compelling for collectors, stylists, and anyone drawn to fashion with depth, power, and presence.
• Style it over denim for contrast, tailored trousers for polish, or layered into an evening look for maximum impact — effortless drama, the Burrows way.
  
• Ideal for evening wear, editorial styling, or high-impact layering, this is a standout example of Stephen Burrows’ enduring influence on American fashion.