From the Oct. 12, 1953 cover story - BACKS ARE BACK IN FASHION. According to LIFE, "The startling invention of the strapless dress in the '30s pushed the low-backed evening dress with straps right out of fashion. With a public grown jaded on strapless tops and plunging necklines, the exposed back is back for the evening and is also appearing in bold new versions for cocktails. Pictured here: "Bareback Geometry in cocktail dress offers oval (left, Ceil Chapman, $85, deep V on Givenchy (Rudolf, $125) and square (Larry Aldrich, $125)." With inflation, these dresses would cost around $1000 today.
