This black Rated R dress was still there on sale day at Goodwill when it caught my eye. With its long sleeves, scoop neckline, and long, flowing silhouette, it had just the right witchy mood for Halloween week.
Look closer and the black fabric reveals its pattern. That quiet detail drew me in, but I could also see how someone might have passed it by.
When I started researching the label, I found a description that felt particularly fitting. A 1988 Los Angeles Times profile described Rated R as a more moderately priced line, with designer Biya Ramar calling its clothing “oversize, casual, comfortable. When you wear it, you’re noticed but not too much.”
That last line captures what caught my attention. The dress had presence without being showy—and there it was, waiting to be found.
Her boutique also gave Ramar room to experiment. A 1992 profile of Eclectia described limited-edition designs, handmade chenille sweaters, and long silk-jacquard sheaths.
There’s an interesting thread from that work to her later designs for Johnny Was. By 2005, Ramar was co-designing JW Los Angeles with Victor Tanisaka, mixing embroidered tees with printed silk-chiffon pieces. I can see a shared interest in expressive fabrics and clothes with movement, even though this black dress has a much quieter personality.
And the Rated R name? It attracted attention of its own. The Motion Picture Association of America challenged its use in a 1986 court case. Company founder Chaim Ramar maintained that the R stood for Ramar.
This dress’s tags tell me it’s 100% rayon, made in the USA, and a size Large. I haven’t pinned down its year yet, but its dark, understated drama feels just right for Halloween week.
References
Los Angeles Times — “L.A. International,” May 8, 1988
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-08-tm-3425-story.html
Los Angeles Times — “Going Solo,” July 24, 1992
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-24-vw-4150-story.html
California Apparel News — “JW Los Angeles by Johnny Was,” February 11, 2005
https://www.apparelnews.net/news/2005/feb/11/jw-los-angeles-by-johnny-was/
Motion Picture Association of America v. Rated R Clothing, Inc. — March 4, 1986
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/646/22/1749684/
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