dress

Christian Dior, Paris 1947 - 1957

Summary

Day dress in red/blue silk plaid with elbow length sleeves with turn-back cuffs, simple v-neck, centre front fastening bodice with 4 blue plastic domed buttons and with pleated panels either side; full circular skirt in panels cut on the cross and with a centre front zip concealed by hooks and eyes, inverted box pleat centre back, side pockets, black silk facing to hem. Separate silk covered narrow belt. Inner woven label to centre back low waist, black on cream, 'Christian Dior, Paris'. The positioning of the label seems rather odd but the dress is definitely couture-made. This dress probably dates from 1950 as tartan and plaid were particulary popular in that year. L'Officiel, Avril 1950 includes a an advert for a similar dress by Dior in 'la mousseline ecossaise' (p,118), and Balmain also chose a plaid in the same issue (p.171) - 'deux pieces en ecossias bleu et vert'.