cocktail dress

Christian Dior, Paris 1947 - 1957

Summary

Cocktail/evening dress in floral silk taffeta with chine print in purples and lilac; sleeveless bodice; separate sash with large made-up bow; full skirt with hem dipping to back and with integral petticoats; labelled 'Christian Dior, Paris Boutique'. A model garment demoted from the catwalk to the Boutique. Belonged to the private collector, BillyBoy*, the avante-garde artist, designer and art collector who has been collecting top-end couture for 40 years and who lives in Switzerland. He met YSL who confirmed that he had designed this gown when working under Christian Dior in 1956. There is a very similar Dior dress for Ducharne advertised in L'Officiel in March 1957 for the spring collections.